Into the unknown – Children’s journeys through the asylum process

The process of claiming asylum is very complicated and confusing for children who seek protection in the UK on their own. This report highlights the UK Border Agency’s (UKBA) agency’s failure to make sure that children understand what is happening to them in the asylum process. The absence of child-friendly information, a wide-spread culture of disbelief and disputes over their age are central to increasing young people’s confusion and sense of insecurity. This causes already traumatised children greater anxiety, with immediate and potentially long-term consequences for their well-being.