New academic research published by London Councils urges root and branch reform of asylum and care systems
London Councils, the cross-party collective of local government in Greater London, has published a comprehensive new report calling for the root and branch reform of asylum and care system for unaccompanied young asylum seekers.
The 81-page report, The Needs of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children and Young People Living in London, can be downloaded here. It was jointly authored by academics from the London School of Economics (LSE), and the University of Bedfordshire, together with the South London Refugee Association (SRLA).
Young people with lived experience of the asylum and care systems played a central role in the research for the report in three key ways. First, a Young People's Advisory Group, made up of eight members, co-designed the research tools, helped interpret the findings, and contributed to developing the recommendations. Second, two trained peer researchers worked alongside university staff to carry out the research. Third, the team held 'research conversations' with 15 unaccompanied young people (aged 16–26) from across London. The term 'research conversations' was used instead of 'interviews' to create a more informal, empowering environment. Data collection took place between July and October 2024.
The authors explain: "At the heart of this research is the need to better understand the needs and experiences of unaccompanied children and young people living in London. It centres their thoughts and feelings in relation to their protection, well-being and integration needs and their experiences of systems, processes and professionals across asylum and care systems."
Overall, the report reveals that unaccompanied young asylum seekers in London face highly varied and often challenging experiences within the asylum and care systems. Many described the asylum process as confusing, isolating, and emotionally harmful – particularly during age disputes, which could lead to homelessness, trauma, and being placed in unsafe adult accommodation. While some young people benefited from supportive social workers and foster carers, others were left to navigate legal and bureaucratic systems alone, often without trusted adults or clear information about their rights.
The study highlights that the frequently long, drawn-out asylum process severely impacted young people's mental health and sense of future security. A lack of consistency across local authorities and professionals led to additional stress, with some youth reporting that their cases were neglected or allowed to 'drift'.
Finding legal support, particularly immigration solicitors, was one of the key areas where many young people felt unsupported and left to navigate the system alone. The report states: "Many of the young people in the sample highlighted often being left to carry many aspects of the burdens of the asylum process on their own, such as finding solicitors on their own. Where they were supported, they spoke of being helped to find an immigration solicitor, of being accompanied to appointments or of being helped to communicate with their solicitor. Where they were not, they spoke of being given lists of solicitors, of being referred to solicitors or advocacy support organisations by friends and peers, not professionals, or at times, searching for solicitors alone. Young people rarely reported receiving help from their social workers to advocate for expert evidence reports to be commissioned, such as country-of-origin reports or medico-legal reports, receiving help to quality assure the legal advice and representation they were getting, or to help them make decisions when they received an asylum decision most crucially an asylum refusal."
One young asylum seeker from Sudan is quoted as saying: "I had no solicitor for 6 months. I had to chase it. I write to my solicitor to ask who is taking the case.......I googled the company and went to another location and the person gave me another address.....They said someone is going to call me and everything is normal and we are waiting on the Home Office to make a decision. I realised if you are waiting on the Home Office you are waiting for years."
Young people described how major moments in the asylum process – including meeting with solicitors or attending the substantive interview – often triggered past trauma, making an already difficult process even more emotionally overwhelming. This emotional strain not only affected their mental health but also risked undermining their asylum claims, as the distress could lead to inconsistencies in their accounts.
The distress was further exacerbated by a lack of support. A young asylum seeker from Iraq said: "My social worker wasn't helpful, wasn't a good social worker. Many times, I was asking my social worker, 'I want somebody to support me, either you or the key worker, if they can come with me, support me in my interviews,' because I even explained to the social worker, I said, 'That's why I need somebody, because I don't feel comfortable. They are asking me a lot of hard questions, difficult questions. It makes me really upset when they ask me those questions. I do really need your support.' But nobody even responded, like they didn't even care."
Many young asylum seekers felt fearful about removal, racism, and violence, especially in the wake of rising anti-migrant sentiment in 2024. Despite these hardships, the young people expressed strong aspirations to study, work, and contribute positively to their communities, highlighting the importance of relationships, belonging, and support in their journeys.
Based on their findings, the authors call for deep-rooted reform to better protect and support young asylum seekers in London. They recommend timely access to free, expert, and child-centred legal representation, ensuring young people receive the holistic support needed to engage effectively with their cases. Age assessments should only occur when there is a clear and significant reason to doubt a young person's age, and stronger safeguards are needed at the border to protect unaccompanied children. The report also highlights the importance of consistent support to promote integration and prevent isolation, particularly during the early stages of arrival. Finally, it urges the government to fund a system of independent legal guardianship for all unaccompanied children from their first point of contact with authorities.