Young people call on parliament to help asylum seekers and refugees

Young asylum seekers and refugees will descend on Westminster tomorrow to ask the English children’s commissioner and MPs to help them tackle the problems they face.

The young people from Save the Children’s Brighter Futures project will be running workshops and question time sessions in parliament in a bid to influence the asylum debate.

They will tell MPs about their experiences of racist bullying; the barriers they face in getting access to higher education; and the unfair treatment they receive from social services.

Brighter Futures is made up of young people aged between 15 and 21 from war-torn and unstable countries who are working to try and change perceptions of young asylum-seekers and refugees.

A spokesperson for the project said: “We want the MPs to help us to change the issues facing us. We are in a strange country and need to feel safe and protected.”

Jessica Nott, Save the Children’s co-ordinator for Brighter Futures, said the event was an important opportunity for young people to speak about the hurdles they faced every day.

“It is rare for young refugees and asylum-seekers to be able to speak directly to those making decisions on their lives,” she added.