Our access to justice project supports children, young people and families with an immigration difficult to access specialist advice. We do not provide immigration advice, but work to refer and signpost children and families to the right advice. We also support with Exceptional Case Funding (ECF) applications to help gain access to legal aid.

Within our access to justice project we can;

• Help you to find initial immigration advice.
• Support you to find a legal representative to take on your case.
• Advise on and help you access legal aid when you cannot afford legal advice.

We provide specialist advice to children, young people and families subject to immigration controls, or who are struggling as a result of their experiences of migration.

We also provide advice to other practitioners working with children who may need some extra support and advice, to make the best plan for a child.

We provide advice in areas such as;

• • Housing and welfare. Including benefits advice.

• • Destitution and Homelessness.

• • Approaching the council for help under Section 17 Children Act 1989

• • Asylum Support

• • Care entitlements

• • Care leaver entitlements

• • Age disputes

• • Children’s education and accessing school places.
  • Children’s needs, suitable services and parenting support.

We provide longer term support, particularly where advice services don’t provide the right level of support a child or family needs. Family support includes things like advice, practical help, emotional support and casework. We also can sometimes provide specialist assessments where the needs and welfare interests of children need to be thought about. These reports may be used as part of an immigration application, or in a court for example.

If we work with you longer term, you will have a named keyworker at the charity who will do an initial assessment and agree a plan with you. We will then work together on the plan which may include things like helping with housing and welfare needs, making support applications, checking your entitlements and referring you to places like baby banks for practical help. We may also help you with things like finding a solicitor. We will then review the plan regularly to make sure it is working and you feel well supported.

This may include other areas of our service like advice and guidance, but also parenting support, managing challenging situations, and thinking about and planning for your children’s needs.

We work out in the community, so we will come and see you at home, or in a community place like the library. We will also call you regularly to see how things are, and you will have a named keyworker you can contact about worries and needs.

We provide a variety of services specifically to young people, young people in care, care leavers and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC). This includes our full range of advice services and access to justice work. It also includes specialist casework support for children and young people who are age disputed.

Our casework and advice services for young people are available to any child with an immigration difficulty or with a limited form of leave to remain, or those who are affected by their experiences of migration.

We can provide advice, support and casework directly to children and young people on issues such as;

• • Age dispute casework.

• • General advocacy.

• • Care entitlements if you are looked after.

• • Leaving care entitlements if you are looked after.

• • Housing and welfare.

• • Emotional support and signposting to wellbeing services.

• • Practical help.

• • Helping you to access legal advice.