Who are young refugees?
Young refugees in the UK
Between September 2021 and September 2022, 5,125 young people claimed asylum in the UK. Young people leave the country for a variety of reasons, including conflict, persecution, political instabilities, or other reasons. These children undertake long and difficult journeys to get to the UK. You can begin to get an idea of what these journeys look like for our young people by watching young people’s digital stories.
Here is a current profile of young refugees in the UK retrieved from Home Office data:
-
95% are boys while 5% are girls
-
The top 6 nationalities are Afghanistan (22%), Iran (18%), Albania (14%), Sudan (11%), Eritrea (7%), Iraq (6%)
-
There have been 3,599 initial decisions, 86% were granted a form of leave (asylum protection, humanitarian etc.) and 14% were either withdrawn or refused
-
- Aged 14–15: 20%
- Aged under 14: 2%
Young refugees in Yorkshire and Humber
Migration Yorkshire provides a data dashboard on looked after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people who have been transferred through the National Transfer Scheme in Yorkshire and Humber. This interactive dashboard also offers an overview for each local authority within Yorkshire and Humber.
Through research carried out by Migration Yorkshire, some of these young refugees shared their perceptions and experiences with us. The young people we spoke to identified four key priorities that would improve their early experiences of life in the UK:
-
Access to the internet
-
Alleviate boredom
-
Accelerated English language learning
-
Strong relationships with carers and professionals
Read more about our research with young refugees
Terminology
We use the term ‘young refugee’ to cover all children and young people who have been separated from their family and carers and find themselves alone and seeking protection in the UK.
You'll also come across other terms, such as:
-
Separated child
-
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking child
-
UASC (stands for unaccompanied asylum-seeking child)
-
Unaccompanied minor
-
Unaccompanied young refugee
Sources of support and information
Advocacy and support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: Refugee Council and NYAS
Information on the specific risks to adolescent girls and how to support them: Women's Refugee Commission
Support for asylum seekers and refugees who have experienced trauma in our region: Services | Migration Yorkshire
Support for survivors of torture and sexual violence: