Where do lone asylum seeking children end up?

The number of children travelling to the UK alone to seek asylum has risen to over 7,000 according to the latest figures, with some local authorities saying they are facing challenges accommodating them.

Department of Education figures show 7,380 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) aged under 18 were in council care across England in March 2024, up from 5,080 in 2020.

The main entry point for migrants arriving on small boats is Dover, and Kent County Council said it recently "almost reached capacity" after a surge of arrivals in December.

The Home Office says it is working with local authorities to support them, but the Local Government Association says more funding is needed.

Kent County Council (KCC) has an obligation to look after lone children when they arrive on small boats in Dover, and a National Transfer Scheme (NTS) was set up to ensure a "fairer, more equitable distribution" of children across all local councils in England.

However, Kent is still caring for the highest number at 498, and council leader Roger Gough says at times it has become "extremely difficult" to transfer unaccompanied minors to other authorities.

"We have seen a big increase in terms of young people transferred through the [NTS] but that's also in the context of seeing an even larger number of young people coming in," the KCC leader said.

"In 2024, some 2,837 young people were referred to our services, 2,366 were transferred under the NTS, so that was an unprecedented number, and we are still looking after a bigger proportion of young people than other councils."

He said there had been a "very large numbers" of arrivals in December.

Gough said transfers were not at the level to guarantee the council's children's service "won't become overwhelmed again".

The government has provided KCC with funding to establish five new reception centres, but the council says it is still concerned that its services will come under pressure if there is a rise in arrivals in the spring and summer.

KCC is calling for government to make further commitments to working with councils to build capacity across the county.

Gough added: "We need a national system that can respond fully and in a timely fashion, even when the demands and needs are very high."

Meanwhile Hampshire County Council said government grants did not cover the significantly higher cost of looking after separated children once they turned 18, despite their "greater needs".

Muddaser, who is now 25 and lives in Canterbury, fled from Sudan at the age of 16 and arrived in Dover in a lorry from France.

He told BBC South East that he reached the UK at the third attempt and now has indefinite leave to remain.

"Sudan isn't safe. I feel safer here. I'm not sure I'd be alive if I was in Sudan at this moment, but I am lucky to be here (UK) and to feel safer."

Muddaser has just completed his PHD in politics and law and says he wants to work for the government who supported him.

Ibrahim was 15 years old when he crossed the Channel in a lorry five years ago.

He left Afghanistan before the return of Taliban rule, and said his father wanted a better life for him.

"People got killed on the way, people got shot in front of me. Why would he put me into this risk if Kabul was safe for me?"

He says he wants to be a mechanic in the UK.

"I love cars, I love working with cars, I hope one day I will have my own garage, working with cars and helping people."

Both Ibrahim and Muddaser are volunteering with Kent Refugee Action Network, who work with young refugees and asylum seekers.

Ahmad Othman fled from Syria when he was 16. His father had been jailed by the Assad regime and was thought to have died in prison.

"It was scary in my country," he said.

"Leaving my family was hard but I would be dead if I stayed."

Ahmad has been looked after by West Berkshire Council after making the "terrifying" channel crossing on a small boat.

Nationally about 9% of looked-after children were unaccompanied asylum-seekers.

The Association of Directors of Children's Services (ADCS) said the increasing numbers of arrivals in gateway authorities, such as Kent, by boat has created unprecedented demand on their services and that local authorities need more support.

President Andy Smith, said there are unresolved issues with the National Transfer scheme.

"These include issues around funding rates and making immigration decisions more quickly so that children and young people have certainty about their immigration status before their 18th birthday.

"They also need to ensure placements and specialist mental health support is available when and where they are needed".

A Local Government Association spokesperson said: "Councils have reported for some years that the cost of supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and care leavers exceeds the funding they receive from the Home Office.

"Sufficient funding, along with targeted work to improve placement capacity and address challenges around age assessment and mental health support, is vital if the National Transfer Scheme is to operate effectively."

A spokesperson for the British Association of Social Workers said: "Social workers have long been responsible for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, however, councils have experienced year-on-year reductions in funding, while the social work sector continues to see rising social work vacancy rates."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The safety and welfare of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is our utmost priority and providing care placements for them is a national issue that requires participation from local authorities across the UK.

"We are continuing to work with local authorities across the UK, including Kent County Council, to support them to fulfil their statutory duties to accommodate unaccompanied children nationwide."

Additional reporting by Nikki Mitchell and Jonathan Fagg, Senior BBC Data Journalist.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.