Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Young People
Willow Tree Support Services has specialist provisions to accommodate and support unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people (UASYP or UASC) who are making a claim for asylum, and who have no adult relative or guardian to care for them in this country, in Berkshire and Cheltenham.
Our staff help young people through the asylum process and work alongside local authorities when conducting age assessments.
We work closely with the local unaccompanied asylum seeker network and refugee support services, enabling service users to engage with community groups and resources. We understand the barriers faced by UASYP when coming into a new community. Our diverse and bilingual workforce are an asset to ensuring that these young people settle in quickly, understand their cultural backgrounds, feel proud of their identity and/or religious beliefs, and are respected while robustly supported to meet their aspirations.
We support UASYP to gain the skills necessary to move towards independence as their long-term settlement status is determined. Support focuses on encouraging young people to increase their self-sufficiency and discourage dependence and institutionalisation. We also work with UASYP who already live here as they become care leavers and move into adulthood.
Willow Tree Support Services can provide UASYP with help and interventions at any time to meet the young person’s individual needs. 24/7 emergency cover is available to young people by use of our out-of-hours service where necessary.
Willow Tree Support Services’ staff help young people to…
- Shop, prepare and cook healthy meals based on their religious and cultural preferences
- Register with a GP and enjoy good health
- Seek out education, training, employment, work experience or voluntary work
- Develop their interests and passions, identifying hobbies they wish to pursue alongside their personal goals
- Stay safe and make the right decisions to protect themselves
- Improve and develop when it comes to budgeting and managing finances
- Access welfare benefits
- Reduce substance misuse and anti-social behaviour
- Manage their sexual health
- Learn or improve their English, literacy, numeracy, and communication skills.
- Understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants and seek appropriate settled accommodation
- Maintain contact with family members where possible
- Leave supported accommodation in a planned and timely way
- Learn laundry and cleaning skills
Kind Words
Currently, two of my young people are placed with Willow Tree Support Services, and both are doing very well with their personal development and education.
Willow Tree seems to invest a lot in their young people, and they also seem to do a good job in placing the right supporting staff around the young people who understand their needs.
Both young people are happy when I see them, and they both speak highly of the support they are getting from the Willow Tree staff team.
In addition to their positive investment in the young people, I have never had any problem with communication or sending regular progress reports in relation to the development of my young people. The staff team are very proactive in ensuring that my young people are getting the right support and make me aware in a timely manner on matters that I need to be aware of.
In conclusion, I can say that I have been receiving an outstanding service from the Willow Tree team with the service I am getting in relation to my two young people with them.
OS | Personal Adviser, Hampshire
