East Midlands Councils (EMC) has written to Government Ministers highlighting the escalating financial pressures on local authorities due to the costs of providing leaving care services for young people who were formerly unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).
In a letter signed by Cllr Martin Hill, Chair of East Midlands Councils, Cllr Alex Dale, Chair of the Regional Migration Board, Cllr Sarah Russell, Vice-Chair of EMC, and Cllr Patricia Bradwell, Chair of the Lead Members for Children’s Services Network, local leaders are calling for a national review of funding arrangements for former UASC care leavers.
The letter comes in response to a new report, conducted by East Midlands Councils (EMC), which outlines the growing financial strain on local authorities in the region as they continue to support a rising number of former UASC care leavers. The report highlights that although the East Midlands has a strong record of supporting young people who arrive in the UK alone, the increasing volume of care leavers is placing unsustainable pressure on local authority resources, particularly in terms of placement sufficiency and housing.
At the heart of the report’s findings is the gap between the Government funding available and the actual costs incurred by local authorities. Despite a funding increase several years ago, the current support package covers only 59% of the placement and staffing costs associated with supporting former UASC care leavers. This has led to a significant shortfall of £7.5 million annually across the region—up from £5.2 million in 2020.
One of the key pressures highlighted in the report is the delay in asylum decision-making. As of the latest figures, one-third of former UASC care leavers are still awaiting a decision on their asylum status. For those awaiting a decision, placement costs are significantly higher, averaging £560 per week, compared to £195 per week for those granted leave to remain. These delays are resulting in an additional £4.2 million in annual costs for local authorities in the region.
The report also underscores the broader issue of local housing pressures, as councils continue to face challenges in providing stable accommodation for former UASC care leavers. With delays in the asylum process and an increasing number of young people in the care system, the demand for housing and placements is outpacing availability, further exacerbating the financial strain on local authorities.
The leaders are calling on the Government to review the funding system for former UASC care leavers, ensuring that local authorities receive the necessary resources to meet their legal and moral obligations to these young people. The report is expected to serve as a vital piece of evidence to inform a national discussion about the future of funding for care leavers formerly in the asylum system.
The full report can be found here: