Bristol opens its doors to Calais children

Bristol has offered to take in ten unaccompanied child refugees from the ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais which was cleared and destroyed by French authorities this week.

The children up to the age of 18 will join 50 who have already been settled in the city from elsewhere across Europe. Bristol is taking in the highest number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children per capita in the South West, the mayor told Bristol24/7.

The council is also working to free up more housing for families who are being resettled in the UK under David Cameron’s promise last year to house 20,000 people across the country.

Bristol24/7 revealed in the summer that Bristol City Council had taken in just five families – 22 people in total – since the pledge was made in September 2015. That number has since risen to 35 people in total, with a further 12 to be housed by the end of the year.

By August this year Sheffield had resettled 273 people and Nottingham 81. Gloucestershire Council had taken in 560, but Manchester and many London boroughs had taken in none.

Housing pressures in Bristol have been blamed for the slow response. Council chiefs told Bristol24/7 they chose not to utilise existing social housing, partly due to the 8,000-plus waiting list.

The council is now relying on landlords to sign up to a scheme where their properties could be used to house refugees – with the rent paid for through a government fund. It is also calling for more foster parents to help look after unaccompanied child refugees.

Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, said Bristol “can, and must, do more” to house refugees.

“This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly, and from our work supporting Syrian refugees and other asylum seekers, we know we must continue to be an outward looking city, ready to do the right thing to help these children and young people make a new start,” he told Bristol24/7.

“We recognise that however people arrive here, they have a lot to offer and make a positive contribution to our city.”

Landlords who want to lend their properties should contact Home Turf Lettings, a not-for-profit company managing the homes used for the refugee relocation schemes.

Councils that take in refugees can claim £8,520 per person from the government. This is supposed to cover the costs of accommodation, translation, administration and transport, among other things.

However, in places with high rents, like Bristol, council leaders estimate the fund only covers 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the total costs of housing refugees, according to The Times.

After five years the funding drops to £5,000 and falls every year until it reaches £1,000 in year five. Councils can also receive £4,500 for children aged five to 18 years old and £2,250 for those aged three to four years old, to cover the cost of education.

Clare Campion-Smith, Bristol City Council’s cabinet member for people, said Bristol also needs more foster parents to come forward to help take care of unaccompanied children.

“Beyond specialist care and practical support like accommodation, healthcare and education and training, these children need social and emotional support too,” she said.

“This is where our strength as a city community comes in and we are reaching out to partners in faith networks, community and voluntary sectors, many of whom have already pledged their support.”

Bristol was declared a City of Sanctury in 2010 – “a recognition of the value the city places on asylum seekers and refugees”.

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