Highlighting Young Voices
Unheard, anxious, alone... we hear from Jeremy who tells us his story...
In the autumn of 2024, YLF were approached by the Kent Branch of the Association of Social Workers to ask if we would be willing to collaborate with them to create an online event for social workers that would highlight the lived experience of unaccompanied asylum seekers.
At this time, YLF was running an advocacy pilot in a reception centre and we were starting to engage with the young people there and hear their stories. YLF also provide accompanying adults for age assessments and we were starting to raise concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of young asylum seekers. We were delighted to be able to link with Social Workers Without Borders and the local branch of BASW.
At the centre of the event, was a video of YLF Ambassador Jeremy Bah, in conversation with his care leaving mentor Andy. Together they explored Jeremy’s journey from leaving Sierra Leone at age 11 to arriving in the UK aged 14 as an unaccompanied minor. Jeremy described the challenges in adapting to life in the UK in foster care and attending school. He reflects on the people who supported him, how he succeeded at school and college but also the advice he would give to other young asylum seekers.
Watch his story below (6m 47s into the recording):
Naomi Jackson from the charity Social Workers Without Borders talked about their mission and the broader issues around young asylum seekers.
YLF will be collaborating with BASW and Social Workers Without Borders to write an article for the BASW magazine. The Kent Branch are keen to use the event as a springboard to build a campaign that focuses on UASC Young People. We will be supporting them to develop some information/guidelines for social workers on what may need to be considered when working with these young people. Jeremy’s lived experience will be at the centre of this. YLF looks forward to working with our partners to raise the challenges faced by young asylum seekers.