£300,000 needed to fund refugee children in Staffordshire

The money is needed on top of the £2.2 million funding already received from the Government for the children.

The authority is currently looking after 86 unaccompanied asylum seeking children, who are mostly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea, Sudan or Pakistan.

It has a duty of care to them after they were found being trafficked across the county, frequently along the M6, or moved from other councils around the UK.

The youngest child found in Staffordshire was 12 but more than two-thirds of them are aged either 16 or 17.

Cabinet member for children and young people Councillor Mark Sutton said: "As a county council, we have a responsibility to take care of all vulnerable children in our county, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

"Increased instability in some countries, coupled with Staffordshire's central position close to key motorway routes, has led to an increase in the county over the past year.

"As with all asylum-seeking children, we are able to access a central government grant to support them."

Safety

All unaccompanied children must have their needs paid for – including access to education and leisure.

One Staffordshire foster carer has been looking after a 15-year-old UASC for five weeks.

The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: "He's from Eritrea. He has got relatives around Europe and in Libya, where people fear for their safety.

"There are grave concerns. We have heard that Islamic State is rounding up Christians in Libya – and his family is Christian.

"It is dreadful. As you actually live with him you think of the things you thought were significant really are insignificant."

The boy has internet and phone contact with relatives.

A Staffordshire County Council spokesman said: "We have a duty to care for these children, as we do with any other child in need in Staffordshire."

The funding for each child varies according to when they arrived in the UK.

If the child is under 16 and arrived before June 30, 2016 the council is given £95 a day. If they are 16 or 17 the authority is paid £71 a day.

For children who arrived on July 1, 2016 onwards the council is paid £114 a day for under 16s or £91 for 16 and 17 year olds.