Suffolk County Council looks for hosts for asylum seeking children
They have been working with The Benjamin Foundation to find hosts so children can integrate into the community
Last updated 7th Mar 2023
There's a call for hosts in Suffolk to house asylum seeking children
Suffolk County Council have been working with The Benjamin Foundation to find hosts so these children can integrate into the Suffolk Community, gain a sense of stability and live as a normal child.
Claire Overton from the Benjamin Foundation told us why this is important:
"We do see that the journeys have been very traumatic for those young people and you know and it's been a case of sort of survival really on their on a daily basis.
"Inevitably they do have trauma. Maybe they will suffer from sleeplessness or night terrors on occasion. It's not the case with every young person that we deal with, but that's certainly a possibility.
"We work very closely with Suffolk County Council to ensure that all these needs are met and that they are linked up with the correct support that they'll need."
Claire told us the difference they have seen in the children who have been able to stay with a host:
"I think you really notice the effect that being cared for has on a young person, somebody to make sure they're okay at the end of the day.
"Somebody to make sure all their needs are met. Somebody to make sure that they've eaten, and that they're engaging in positive opportunities.
"So you'll see the children and young people will become more outgoing, and they'll be happier.
"They'll be more positive and they'll be more likely to engage in positive activities, things that are good for their mental health and join in on family dinners, maybe joining in on family days out.
"It also increases confidence, lessening those mental health difficulties and succeeding in education. It's quite profound."
Claire told us what people should think about before agreeing to be a host:
"They need to approach it with an open mind.
"It's not going to be plain sailing, but the rewards really do pay off.
"Sometimes we've had challenges around the language barrier, but we've overcome them with various inventive ways, flashcards and translation apps, things like that.
"They need to be open-minded towards supporting the young person and practising their customs.
"If they're important to them, we see a mutual exchange.
"Young people are very keen to embrace our culture and our customs and will engage in some of our English traditions but the host will often be keenly supporting those young people to practice their own customs."
She also told us what the Benjamin Foundation does once someone expresses interest in becoming a host:
"Very similar to a foster care assessment, but on a scaled-down version. We will be looking at motivations.
"We'll be looking at relevant experience. We'll be looking at what skills they have to be able to offer those young people.
"We also do relevant DBS checks, references, those sorts of things.
"We always stay around for a comprehensive training program, which is where we really start to build the relationship with the host and we get to know them on an individual basis.
"We're quite tuned in, to how our hosts are feeling on a day-to-day basis on a week-to-week basis to be able to give them the support to continue to offer the service successfully."
If you’re interested in finding out more about hosting with The Benjamin Foundation, call their Heart and Home team on 01603 886930
Or email heartandhome@benjaminfoundation.co.uk
Or even simply a direction to our website: https://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/service/heart-and-home/