The asylum system is something which concerns many of Andrew’s constituents, so he was happy to meet up with Barnardo’s, in Parliament today, to mark Refugee Week.
The event, which was hosted by Stephen Kinnock MP – the Shadow Minister for Immigration, gave MPs the opportunity to meet unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people that have been supported by Barnardo’s and to hear about their journeys of hope.
A group of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people, supported by Barnardo’s, recently produced a comic book and video to welcome other children and young people in this situation, informed by their own experiences. They wanted to create a positive change in their new neighbourhoods, by supporting other children and young people settling into a new life in the UK through a ‘warm welcome care pack’.
Andrew got the opportunity to meet some of the the children and young people involved in this project. He also got to see the comic book artwork and video which they produced.
Andrew Western said: “I joined an important event organised by Barnardo’s in Parliament this week. I got to speak with young people who have sought sanctuary in the UK about their experiences of our asylum system which is failing to show them compassion or respect.”
Barnardo’s has a history of supporting children and young people seeking sanctuary in the UK, as well as British children and young people experiencing harm.
The charity’s Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship Service (ICTG) supports children and young people to cope with the practical and emotional trauma of being trafficked and helps them to understand and navigate social services, criminal justice and immigration.
Between 2021 and 2022, Barnardo’s supported over 1400 children and young people from more than 40 countries, including the UK, Vietnam, Albania, Sudan, Afghanistan and Eritrea.