We offer a clinical and a support service to young asylum seekers and refugees: children, adolescents and young adults and sometimes to parents and families. Following careful initial assessments, we offer ongoing support and individual and group treatment where appropriate.

Former Child Soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Photo: L. Rose/USAID

The young people with whom we work have experienced a variety of concrete and abstract losses - of significant people in their family and community; of their homes, their cultures; and their way of life. They all need time in a safe and secure environment where these issues can be addressed in order to develop towards a mature adult identity and to participate in a meaningful way in community life.

We offer initial assessments of emotional and developmental functioning and of the risk of suicidal behaviour, aggressive behaviour and risk of disappearance. The assessment of psychological functioning, and of risk, is monitored on an ongoing basis. This work is carried out in parallel with work that supports social participation and, based on individual needs, proceeds at a different rate for each young person.   

We also carry out assessments and prepare reports in relation to the asylum claims of young people and also to the child care process and in civil actions i.e. situations where the experiences of asylum seeking and refugee children and the consequences of these experiences need explication and clarification, or where safeguarding and child protection issues need to be explored and addressed.  These assessments include exploring and addressing the question of whether or not young people need, or have a wish for, help with painful and troubled feelings.

We offer consultation to other workers in the multi-disciplinary networks in relation to assessment and treatment

Please use our referral form to contact us.  

Bantu refugee children from refugee camps in Kenya in St. Petersburg, Florida; at a farewell party before being relocated to other places in the US
     Photo: melvin "Buddy" Baker

We are currently working with 66 young people, children, adolescents and young adults. These young people come from all over London to access our services. They come originally from- 22 different countries and many are from mixed ethnicities. Some are from mixed ethnicities e.g. Hutu/Tutsi or Ethiopean/Eritrean or Kosovan/Roma. We see young people currently from age three to age twenty five. Some live with parents who suffer mental health difficulties after torture and some are parents and need particular support with parenting their own children. Most are in education or work. We run currently a weekly psychotherapeutic group for young adults who arrived in the UK as unaccompanied minors and a weekly children's group.  We plan also to run a fortnightly group for adolescents and to run legal, social work and welfare advice clinics.  Currently advice is available.  For the members of our ongoing community, we organise days away and therapeutic retreats together.  Young people are also encouraged to develop their leadership skills and in 2010 we are planning to extend this to a mentoring programme.

 

We offer: