Torfaen Council Considers Support For Vulnerable Children

Today (18.10.2016), Torfaen councillors discussed the Council’s participation in schemes to resettle refugees and vulnerable children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Home Office and WLGA has written to the Council, acknowledging the positive work already undertaken and requesting the Council consider further participation in two voluntary schemes that support in particular vulnerable children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council has been requested by the Home Office to voluntarily participate in the National Transfer Scheme of Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) and the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Programme (VCRP). The two new schemes are both funded directly through the Home Office. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The national transfer scheme is for children who arrive in the UK and claim asylum to ensure there is a more even distribution of caring responsibilities across the UK to help local councils in the south east of England who have had significant numbers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In support of the scheme the Government will provide funding to local authorities caring for UASC, with annual financial support for each child under 16 up to £41,610 and £33,215 for 16 and 17 year olds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Daniels, Executive Member for Communities said: ‘Torfaen has a proud history of supporting vulnerable people and refugees and the Council was one of the first in the UK to support the relocation of Syrian refugees. With careful planning, three Syrian families have successfully settled in the borough with a further three to be settled in the next few months. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

‘The crisis in Syria is affecting millions of people including very vulnerable children who are displaced from their homes and separated from family through no fault of their own. We will request further information from the Home Office before Cabinet consider these schemes in finer detail but I’m confident we can play our part and use our experience to find appropriate homes for these children.’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council unanimously approved that a detailed report will be taken to the Cabinet Committee during November. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​