Last week Dorset council voted to support Safe Passage (Dorset), provided that the government fully funds the programme.
Safe passage is calling upon every local authority across the country to commit to accepting a minimum of three unaccompanied or vulnerable refugee children per year every year for the next ten years. These will be children from authenticated agencies such as The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) working with the UK Home Office. They would arrive by a safe and legal route, not as spontaneous arrivals.
Cllr Valerie Pothecary, Vice Charmain of Dorset Council, who proposed the motion at today’s council meeting, said:
“I’m truly delighted to be asked to put this motion forward. It is a wonderful opportunity for Dorset Council to show its support, across all parties, for this humanitarian project.”
Dorset Council’s fostering team is working with Safe Passage (Dorset) to recruit foster carers to find safe and loving homes for these and other children in Dorset.
There are many different types of foster care. Placements can be short, long-term, or provide respite for other foster carers or parents. The children needing care range from babies to18-year olds. Some children are disabled, have special educational needs or are unaccompanied migrant children of all ages.
Claire Shiels, Corporate Director for Commissioning and Partnerships at Dorset Council, said:
“We are proud to support refugees here in Dorset. We’re already part of the Vulnerable Person Resettlement Scheme and are pleased to have resettled 15 families across the county. We also support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and have helped 20 young people so far.
“Last November, Dorset County Council supported the Safe Passage scheme in principle, providing it was funded by the Government. Members agreed that the motion would need to go to the new Dorset Council.”
What a worthy cause. I am very happy that Dorset is showing such caring and compassion for vulnerable children in their hour of need. We would all hope that our children would receive such compassion if the tables were turned. Keep up the good work.
I think its a Brilliant idea. i support it.
This is a great idea and I fully support it. One question, in the past young people who have been given refuge for a number of years have, on reaching the age of 18, been sent back to their country of origin, often with no support and no family to go back to. Can you guarantee this will not happen to any young person who is accepted onto this scheme?
I am totally opposed to this new project, presumably using yet more of council tax funds. I am not heartless but surely our first priority should be the vulnerable children in own communities. What are these do- gooders doing about the number of children living below the poverty line, even going to school without breakfast. There is now a food bank in every local super market and many other offices. Do Council officials have any sort of conscience about these issues.Charity really should begin at home. There is already more than enough abuse of our generosity.
why can you not look after our own people first, my daughter was born here and cannot get housing and it is costing her a fortune in private rental and immigrants come here and get given everything . they are a drain on our scares resources. I am a veteran and couldn’t get any housing when I left the forces and was told to go to Germany and live as that was my last place of serving. moat of there children will be bringing there missing families into the area after a few years costing us even more in resources and benefits. there are at least 10 veterans on Bournemouth’s streets homeless give them all the benefits before immigrants.