Unaccompanied asylum seeking young people
Care-experienced young people with immigration or asylum status are urged to seek specialist advice, such as:
Important words and what they mean
As a young person in the country with no adult to supervise and care for you, you may become a child in care.
If you are a child in care for more than 13 weeks after the age of 16, you will become a care leaver and have a leaving care worker.
It may be extra challenging for you as English may not be your first language, but you are entitled to support and clear advice in your language. If you need it please ask, and we will help with translation. (This will be limited to important documents)
What we do?
The leaving care service works with young people leaving care aged 16 to 25. All young people who are eligible for a service are entitled to support up to the age of 25 regardless of their circumstances.
If you’re not sure whether the offer applies to you, or if there is anything else in this guide that you don't understand, speak to your social worker or leaving care worker.
If you don’t have a social worker or leaving care worker, get in touch with the leaving care team and they will be able to let you know whether the offer applies to you.
If you’ve had a leaving care worker in the past and would like some support from the leaving care team again, please get back in touch.
At 16 (or soon after coming into care before you turn 18) you will be supported by a leaving care worker and a social worker up to 18. At 18 you will no longer have a social worker, but the leaving care team will be with you, if you want, up to the age of 25.
At 21 we step you forward to a less intensive service. We want you to be your own independent adult in your own rights, but you are still fully entitled to come back to us at any time and access support offering information, advice and guidance from the leaving care service up to the age of 25.
Being your corporate parents means Lincolnshire, the seven district councils and our partners must provide you with certain support and services, some of these are in law. We want to support you and offer every opportunity you need to be the best you can possibly be and to achieve your goals.
How can we help?
The team will work closely with you, your social worker and your carers when you are 16 and 17. This will ensure that you are ready and able to make a successful move into adulthood.
We will support and advocate on your behalf. We will carry out a six-monthly pathway review meeting with you and other agencies and organisations that may be helping you.
We offer funding for new home grants, help by paying for education and have options for apprenticeships and employment support.
Our promise to you
As a department, we will:
- respect and honour your identity
- believe in you, take your views into account and never give up on you
- discuss your needs with you and listen to your views
- give you the information you need in every aspect of life, including opportunities and rights
- support you with your needs and the decisions you have to make
- enhance your life skills to help you find and manage a home
- listen to you and be available when possible
We know that managing your money can be challenging, so we will help you to:
- open a bank account
- claim benefits
- get your National Insurance Number if you don’t have or know it
- deal with any emergencies
- set up your home grant for purchasing items, such as furniture
- get grants, discounts and funding that you are eligible for
- manage health costs, such as prescriptions, dental care or glasses
- use your £2000 setting up home grant
Rent gap
If you are a young person who has left the care of Lincolnshire County Council and you are struggling to cover the gap between your income and the cost of rent and supported living, speak to your leaving care worker as help may be available. You may be eligible for a short period of discretionary additional funding to help meet you the costs of living in supported housing. Speak to your leaving care worker for more information
Options available to you
If you are under 18, we must pay for your housing and make sure it is suitable.
A move to independent living can be a big step so we can give you options, such as:
- returning home for a short time
- remaining with a foster carer
- moving to supported lodgings
- a semi-independent option
Once you are 18:
- you are responsible for paying your rent and expenses
- if you remain in education, we will only pay for accommodation during holidays
Supporting at college or other education programmes
We will help you receive the financial support you are entitled to at school or college. Depending on your age, type of course and other circumstances, we will help with:
- registration and exam fees
- textbooks and software specified as essential
- activities essential to meet course requirements
- public transport between home and place of learning
- transport to open days and interviews
- specific clothing, such as for interview or course equipment
If you are 18 or 19 and in full-time education, you may be entitled to the 16 to 19 bursary fund. Care leavers are a priority group for this funding which can be up to £1,200 per year.
If you are 20 or over, we can help you access other funding sources to support you in education and training.
Supporting you at university
We commit to supporting you to succeed at university. Your personal adviser will help you to apply and prepare. They will continue to support you throughout your course if you wish.
They can work with you to ensure you have accommodation, transport, equipment and financial support. They can also help you to apply for any care leaver grants or bursaries that may be available to you at your university.
Further help
We will give you £25 on your birthday (£50 for your 21st) and £50 each year for your festival (for example Christmas)
Young parents may be entitled to help with childcare costs.
See our leaving care and looked after children finance handbook for more in depth details
If you need to understand anything about your time in care, please speak to your leaving care worker.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the United Kingdom are:
- children outside their country of origin to seek asylum in the United Kingdom,
- separated from parents and relatives
- and, are not in the care of someone responsible for doing so
If you are a care leaver with immigration or asylum status, you will have lots of forms and tasks to complete before turning 18 and every few years after that. Your Leaving Care worker will help you with this and translate important documents for you
If things are not done on time, it can harm your chances of staying in the UK so we urge you to work with your solicitor and leaving care worker
We will give you clear advice through your Pathway Plan to ensure you get the support you need