Deep-rooted reform is needed to prioritise the protection and well-being of children and young people seeking asylum in the capital, according to a new report from London Councils.1
The report features research led by two peer researchers and an advisory group, all with lived experience of seeking asylum as a young person in the UK. The peer researchers were trained and supported by university researchers to carry out in-depth conversations with 15 unaccompanied children and young people across several London boroughs.
Children and young people described the existing asylum process as long and uncertain, with delays placing their lives, hopes, and futures on hold. Enabling speedier decisions would help clear the current backlog, reduce costs for boroughs, and ensure that unaccompanied children are not left in prolonged uncertainty, damaging their sense of belonging.
Intrusive and retraumatising age assessments often triggered feelings of loss and separation from families. In some cases, these assessments also delayed asylum decisions, while children who were wrongly assessed as adults faced potential harm after being placed in adult hotels and denied access to children’s services.
Almost all young people reported struggling to understand the asylum process. They faced significant barriers in accessing clear information about their rights and entitlements, often unaware of their right to access advisory services.
Recommended policy reforms include:
All children and young people who are in the asylum system should have timely access to free, expert legal representation which is child-centred, receiving the holistic support they need to be able to engage effectively with their legal case.
Children should only be subject to age disputes where there is significant reason to doubt their age and as a last resort, whilst safeguards for unaccompanied children at the border need strengthening.
Consistent integration and belonging support provided for unaccompanied young people to prevent loneliness, especially upon arrival.
The government should provide funding to local authorities to establish a system of independent legal guardianship for all unaccompanied children; from the moment they come into contact with any authority.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Communities, said:
“We know that under the current system, unaccompanied children and young people seeking asylum experience adversity daily in boroughs across London. We urgently need reforms that centre the rights, voices, and well-being of these children. From legal support to integration services, boroughs are calling for a compassionate, coordinated approach that helps young people build safe and hopeful futures.”
Peer researchers, Gersi and Amina, said:
“As young people with lived experience of seeking asylum in the UK, the research we’ve carried out reflects the challenges and confusion that so many young asylum seekers face. We hope our ideas will be taken forward to make a real, lasting difference for both current and future generations of vulnerable young people seeking safety in the UK.”
In recent years, London boroughs have supported around a third of all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children looked after by local authorities in England. During this time, unaccompanied children made up around 16% of all looked-after children in London boroughs – higher than the 7% average for England. 2
