REFlecting on reality
A seasonal message from Razia, KRAN Chief Executive Officer
As we’re well into the festive season and are filled with hope, giving and compassion, we also reflect on the reality for young refugees in Kent.
Parliament is trying to paste together its Illegal Migration Act which has been smashed by the recent High Court Ruling regarding Rwanda flights - a key part of the act.
In the meantime, new sites are being acquired to house adult asylum seekers, and hotels are being closed, with those gaining refugee status now being given just seven days to leave and find alternative accommodation (instead of the usual 28 days).
Our young people, most of whom arrived after March this year, will no longer have the right to claim asylum in the UK, even if they are fleeing persecution. As I meet and get to know them, they still have hope in their eyes, they are resilient and have overcome so much, and yet when they turn 18, based on the new Act they can be detained on a barge or a barracks and then deported.
Statutory sector services are stretched and don't have many options so are referring people to KRAN, including adults who are now being placed in Kent as part of the Home Office Dispersal Zone.
The biggest challenges of legal support and housing provision are a structural problem across the UK (shortage of legal aid providers because it is no longer cost effective for solicitor firms Legal aid | The Law Society and Warning of social housing ‘perfect storm’ | Local Government Chronicle (LGC) (lgcplus.com)).
There is no real solution: there is a legal aid desert in Kent, even though there is the highest need in the area given there are 2,000 separated young people in care and leaving care in Kent (Napier Barracks and Manston Holding Centre). The private rented sector has its own challenges of accessibility and affordability, before we start addressing issues such as prejudice because most of our young people are on Universal Credit, are at college and do not have a job. This is coupled with misinformation and stigma regarding refugees.
And yet KRAN continues to do all it can for the young people we work with and those who are referred to us. We offer a full range of services, an empowering, non-judgemental and holistic approach to working with young people, and provide a safe and positive space.
However our provision and services are stretched. The cost of living crisis means that our donations have fallen and so we are appealing to our friends and networks to support us by donating on the link at the top of this page.
Our funds have to be flexible to ensure we can be adaptable to address emerging needs. Sharing stories about how our young people have survived the challenges they have faced - and continue to try and flourish when there are so many obstacles in their way - is an inspiration to us all!
As we continue to mark and celebrate our 20th anniversary, we wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We look forward to seeing you all at our annual general meeting on Thursday 22 February 2024 (please put the date in your diary; more details to follow)!