Unaccompanied children and young people seeking asylum in London are facing serious delays, confusion, and emotional harm under the current system, according to a report.

The report, "The Needs of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People Living in London", featured detailed interviews with 15 unaccompanied minors across several London districts or boroughs. The findings uncover a complex asylum system that often fails to recognize or address the needs of unaccompanied minors who are seeking international protection. 

Young people described the asylum process as slow and uncertain, with long waits for decisions, stalling their futures. They said the delays impacted their mental well-being and made integration into British life far more difficult. The lack of clarity in the process, such as looking for a solicitor, left many feeling anxious, disoriented, and isolated, unsure of what steps to take or what support was available to them. 

Across the board, young people shared that they did not fully understand their legal rights or the asylum procedures they were subject to. Many were unaware they could access advice and support, a gap that further deepens their vulnerability. 

Age disputes 

One of the most often cited gaps in the asylum system is the way age assessments are currently carried out. Several children spoke of these assessments as invasive and traumatizing. When authorities incorrectly assessed their age, some were placed in adult accommodations such as hotels, stripping them of access to child care services and leaving them feeling more isolated. 

In parallel, those interviewed also cited the power of relationships with foster carers and guardians or a caring social worker and solicitor as a factor that increased their feeling of security and belonging. 

"We know that under the current system, unaccompanied children and young people seeking asylum experience adversity daily in boroughs across London. ... From legal support to integration services, boroughs are calling for a compassionate, coordinated approach that helps young people build safe and hopeful futures." Cllr Anthony Okereke, London Councils’ Executive Member for Communities, said in a statement. London Councils is one of the organizations that commissioned the report.

The study called for the prioritization of child welfare within the immigration system. Recommendations include ensuring all asylum-seeking children have access to expert, child-focused legal advice and support from the moment they engage with authorities. It also called on the government to limit age disputes and age assessments only to cases where there is clear evidence of doubt.

The research was led by two trained peer researchers who had sought asylum as young people. The peer researchers, identified only by their first name in the research, Gersi and Amina, worked alongside academics from the University of Bedfordshire and the London School of Economics and Political Science.  

Gersi came to the UK from Albania when he was 16. Nine years later, he is still waiting for his asylum decision.

In a joint statement, 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."

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Lack of safeguarding measures

The report comes on the heels of a report by the British broadcaster BBC in March calling for an independent inquiry into the treatment of unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK.

Eighteen charities and professional groups, including the Refugee Council and the British Association of Social Workers, signed an open letter demanding urgent action after a government report revealed serious safeguarding failures at two asylum hotels in Kent used to house children. 

One of the findings involved a hotel team leader who reportedly turned the foster placement process into a guessing game, asking children to speculate who would be next to leave. Inspectors described the practice as "insensitive in the extreme and undoubtedly upsetting," adding that although the behavior appeared isolated, it had not been challenged by hotel staff. 

Campaigners have described the findings as "disturbing, distressing and dystopian," pointing to hundreds of children who remain missing after disappearing from asylum hotels. The open letter highlights cases of children wrongly age-assessed and placed in bedrooms with unrelated adults, warning of a "culture of callous disregard for children's basic right to dignity." 

The Home Office confirmed the worker was immediately removed and said a full investigation is underway.  

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Unprecedented number of arrivals of unaccompanied minors 

Early this month, a record number of 70 lone children arrived on small boats in a single day. The children who landed in Kent, South East England, went into the care of Kent County Council on a single day, the BBC reported. Another 48 unaccompanied children arrived previously on small boats from France.

An estimated 705 children were reported to have entered the care of the Kent County Council between January and June. 

Last month, more than 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel from France and arrived in the UK on small boats.

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