Child Refugees Only?

[OurHouseInTheMiddleOfTheStreet]

Posting here for traffic, apologies if it’s been asked before…

We don’t have the space to take in a Ukrainian family, we also have three very young children to consider. That said, we would like to help if we can.

Is it possible to take in a child only ie someone that has been orphaned?

Would ages be taken into consideration?
For example, a child of similar age to DC would probably settle better in our home than a teenager?

I don’t want to sound as though as though I’m cherry picking but it’s a bit commitment.

Thanks.

I would imagine children alone would need to be fostered and proper safeguarding checks completed. This is what happens for unaccompanied minors.

Had you been considering adoption before now? If not, I think you'd have to look into that in some detail, do the courses and the assessments. It sounds as though you think that social services might drop a traumatised, orphaned, primary-aged child into your home imminently. I hope to God the UK's safeguarding procedures are better than that.

@Citygirl2019
I have looked into it previously and friends of ours adopted - it took them years.

@HerculesMulligan
Not at all, I just didn’t know if there were agencies dealing with this and if circumstances of fostering children were different to those already in place given the circumstances.

Having a child who has been orphaned through war would be a MASSIVE commitment @OurHouseInTheMiddleOfTheStreet

With a language barrier there I don't see how that would work...also as you have 3 young children, Taking on an orphaned foreign child would be the most definite way of taking your focus off of them.

You would need a lot of training on how to deal with it all emotionally etc etc

Besides the legalities of it all do you really think you could cope with 3 young children of your own and a child that has lost both of their parents, fled a warzone and is now in a strange country with strange people where no one speaks his language?

An unaccompanied child is a massive commitment, probably the biggest of all.

Placement of children will be managed by social services.

Children in this situation would be looked after by specialist foster carers.

I would ,hope there would be a proper vetting process
I imagine these children will be fostered through social services .

I agree with others that this would be a significantly bigger commitment than taking in adults.

Thank you, I know it’s a huge commitment.

I supposed I was more asking if there is anywhere I can contact to look into it further.

Unaccompanied minors will be managed through social services and placed with approved foster carers

You would need to be an experienced foster carer.

An unaccompanied child who has been through who knows what needs specialist support. Helicoptering them into an extremely busy home when they don't speak the language doesn't seem like a solution.

I would more be the commitment of space, etc with a family but also the children. Due to lockdown, they’re quite shy around adults but absolutely fine with children….we had previously considered adopting and this has sort of started that ball rolling again.

There’s an agency local to us so I’ll start by contacting them again if it’s a case of going down the usual channels.

we would like to help if we can

Money. Give money.

www.unrefugees.org.uk/take-action/how-to-help-ukraine/

donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

An unaccompanied child orphaned in a war is going to need an experienced foster carer.

You are already busy with three very young children so this would be too much for anyone to realistically take on.

If you want to become a foster carer then a quick google search will tell you about the application process for your locality. Not sure you can apply to become a foster carer but specify that you're only willing to take in a Ukrainian child though.

Unsupervised children, you’d need the same checks, references, that go with being a foster carer. That all takes time, it’s a drawn out process.

Unaccompanied . Not unsupervised !!

Unaccompanied minors are cared for by local authorities. I am not sure, with respect, what you think you can offer. I think you have a somewhat romanticised view of caring for an orphan.

I doubt they’ll be many unaccompanied children leaving Ukraine. Firstly, thankfully there’s not a huge count on civilians and also if there was an ‘orphaned’ child I can imagine other family members adopting/being guardians. Thankfully at the moment women are crossing with their children. Until other countries reach capacity and stop adults from seeking refuged (which is unlikely as having unaccompanied minors is more of a challenge than having a family) this is unlikely to change.

It would probably be more useful to host a teenage/young adult (if you’re able to put your kids in one room) as they’ll still need support/guidance.

Just wanted to say It's lovely of you OP that you are wanting to help ❤

Just look up fostering with your local council - that is the only route.

Nice that you want to help but you’re being incredibly naive. A recently orphaned child uprooted from their home country is going to need specialist support, language support and lots of time, attention and expertise.

Unless a massive drip feed is coming, you don’t have any of that.

Why not a teen?