Fostering Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children
The Fairer Fostering Partnership is seeking to support the work of the government and local authorities to recruit more foster carers for unaccompanied children. We encourage you to contact a Fairer Fostering member in your area for more information.
We urgently need foster carers across the UK to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These young people need safe, nurturing environments where they can rebuild their lives and adjust to a new country. Fostering children in search of asylum presents its challenges, but the rewards are immense as you help them grow, heal, and integrate into their new community.
What to expect when fostering an asylum-seeking young person
Most of the unaccompanied young people who need a foster home will be between 11 and 17 years old. Unlike fostering children from the UK, there may be limited information available about the young people when they arrive. What is certain is that these children will have faced significant hardship, having fled conflict, violence or persecution in their home countries. Many will have been separated from their families, with some having tragically lost loved ones.
When they arrive in the UK, these children are likely to be exhausted, vulnerable and frightened. Providing them with a secure and supportive environment is key to their recovery and emotional wellbeing.
The role of a foster carer for asylum-seeking young people
As a foster carer, your role is to help these young people regain their confidence, self-esteem and emotional stability. You'll provide a safe home and assist them in adjusting to life in the UK — teaching them the language, customs, and giving them the reassurance that they are protected and supported. You may also help them navigate the asylum process and, in some cases, prepare them for potential return to their home country.
Where possible, we aim to match young people with carers who share or are familiar with their cultural or linguistic background. However, we also seek foster carers who are adaptable and resourceful in helping children maintain and celebrate their culture.
We will provide you with comprehensive support, including specialist training, to ensure you have the tools and knowledge to care for asylum-seeking children.
Interested in fostering unaccompanied refugee children? Here's how to get started...
To foster unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, you first need to be approved as a foster carer. This approval process typically takes around six months.
Here are the basic requirements to become a foster carer:
If you meet these requirements and are ready to make a life-changing impact, you can contact one of The Fairer Fostering Partnership’s not-for-profit member agencies, or, if you would like to foster with your local council, you can find details at fosterline.info/about-us.
We urgently need foster carers across the UK to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These young people need safe, nurturing environments where they can rebuild their lives and adjust to a new country. Fostering children in search of asylum presents its challenges, but the rewards are immense as you help them grow, heal, and integrate into their new community.
What to expect when fostering an asylum-seeking young person
Most of the unaccompanied young people who need a foster home will be between 11 and 17 years old. Unlike fostering children from the UK, there may be limited information available about the young people when they arrive. What is certain is that these children will have faced significant hardship, having fled conflict, violence or persecution in their home countries. Many will have been separated from their families, with some having tragically lost loved ones.
When they arrive in the UK, these children are likely to be exhausted, vulnerable and frightened. Providing them with a secure and supportive environment is key to their recovery and emotional wellbeing.
The role of a foster carer for asylum-seeking young people
As a foster carer, your role is to help these young people regain their confidence, self-esteem and emotional stability. You'll provide a safe home and assist them in adjusting to life in the UK — teaching them the language, customs, and giving them the reassurance that they are protected and supported. You may also help them navigate the asylum process and, in some cases, prepare them for potential return to their home country.
Where possible, we aim to match young people with carers who share or are familiar with their cultural or linguistic background. However, we also seek foster carers who are adaptable and resourceful in helping children maintain and celebrate their culture.
We will provide you with comprehensive support, including specialist training, to ensure you have the tools and knowledge to care for asylum-seeking children.
Interested in fostering unaccompanied refugee children? Here's how to get started...
To foster unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, you first need to be approved as a foster carer. This approval process typically takes around six months.
Here are the basic requirements to become a foster carer:
- You must be at least 21 years old
- You must have a spare bedroom
- You must be a full-time UK resident or hold indefinite leave to remain
- You must have a good command of both spoken and written English
- You must be able to commit the time and attention needed for fostering
If you meet these requirements and are ready to make a life-changing impact, you can contact one of The Fairer Fostering Partnership’s not-for-profit member agencies, or, if you would like to foster with your local council, you can find details at fosterline.info/about-us.