New Arrivals in South London
Extreme isolation, low English language levels and trauma are exceptionally common amongst refugees in South London, and individuals struggle to access support when they need it most.
Challenges
New Arrivals
Arrival in the UK poses a moment of crisis for new arrivals; adults and families are placed in hotels for up to two years whilst they await the outcome of their asylum application. They live off £9 per week, rending social activities, social integration and education classes inaccessible.
Unaccompanied Minors
Unaccompanied minors arrive with no support networks and must navigate both the asylum system and their transition to adulthood alone. They face delays of up to 9 months when joining mainstream education, creating vast educational disparities.
Facts & Figures
One Year
is the average wait time for English classes.
Over 40%
of asylum seekers don’t have access to legal support.
Casework Support
is not offered by the Home Office in hotels.
37.4 Months
Young people with a refugee background are, on average, 37.4 months behind other children across all subjects at GCSE level.
Poverty
Even after gaining asylum, refugee families are disproportionately affected by poverty.
