Spending on care and support for unaccompanied children seeking asylum has almost doubled in four years, according to analysis by local authorities.
The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents councils, said latest figures show the number of asylum-seeking children in care in England has gone up from 2,760 in 2014-15 to 4,480 in 2017-18.
As a result council spending has risen from £77m to £152m over the same period, putting additional pressure on children’s services which, according to the LGA, face a £3.1bn funding gap by 2025 in order to maintain the current level of services.
The LGA says there has also been a 50% increase in two years in unaccompanied children leaving care when they turn 18, who remain the responsibility of the local authority and in need of support. In 2016, 4,660 unaccompanied children left care, which went up to 7,130 last year.
David Simmonds, who chairs the LGA’s asylum, migration and refugee task group, said: “Councils have a strong track record supporting those resettling in the UK and are committed to providing the best support possible.
“However, given the significant financial pressures councils are under as they set local budgets and council tax in the coming weeks, achieving the level of support new arrivals are legally entitled to is becoming more and more challenging.”
The LGA urged the government to complete its long-awaited review of the cost of supporting unaccompanied children, and to provide long-term funding security to enable councils to offer appropriate care and support.
“Councils want to make sure every child in their care gets the very best support which keeps them safe from harm, and enables them to go on and live fulfilling, happy and healthy lives.
“This is why the government needs to announce the findings of its long overdue review into the funding of support provided by councils for unaccompanied children.
“It is vital this includes a pledge to properly fund the joint commitment to support unaccompanied children, young people and families starting a new life in the UK. We also need to see the government tackle the wider funding shortfall facing children’s services in the forthcoming spending review.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are very grateful to local authorities who provide care for a significant number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
“We are currently reviewing the funding arrangements and over 50 local authorities have taken part. We hope to reach a conclusion soon, but it is right that we take time to thoroughly assess the evidence.
“We are committed to putting in place arrangements which work as well as possible for both the unaccompanied children and local authorities.”
The Home Office said that councils who look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children receive £41,610 a year for under-16s and £33,215 a year for those aged 16 and 17. The government provides £200 a week for those who are entitled to leaving care support.