16yr old has no access to her ID

[leavesinthebreeze]

NC for this as quite outing.
Basics are:
16yr old has runaway from home. She is now settled and safe with a family friend. Social services are satisfied she is safe so have closed the case with her. She has applied to start college in September. The problem we currently have is that her parents are withholding her passport and her birth certificate. She was born in Bangladesh but moved here 5 years ago. We have been unable to get her an NI number, register her at a GP surgery or open a bank account because she has no ID. I sought legal advice (free) who said get the police involved. The police said seek legal advice. I have emailed the Bangladeshi consulate to enquire about a replacement birth certificate it not heard back yet. College told her she can get a bursary when she starts there but with no ID this is not definite now. I have contacted Muslim Women’s Network who have been supportive but there seems to be no way to get these documents without having to pay gor replacements (money she doesn’t have). She is currently looking for part time work and has a share code to show she it’s entitled to live and work here. The family friend she is living with is not an official guardian and SS did not suggest that should happen.

Has anyone got any extra advice or anything I have missed in trying to get these documents from her parents?

@leavesinthebreeze

OP, you may be able to have a 30 minute initial consultation with an Immigration solicitor to discuss the basics of the case.

The solicitor will advise on the possibility of Legal Aid for the case. Although standard Immigration cases wouldn't be accepted for Legal Aid, it's different for cases in specific contexts and I think that one involving a vulnerable 16 year old girl is likely to be one.

I really would advise you to see a solicitor. Ultimately, there needs to be someone with extensive legal knowledge and access to the courts representing her at this juncture.

https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk

https://www.goodmanray.com/our-expertise/domestic-abuse/forced-marriage/

This firm specialises in domestic and children's law. She might qualify for legal aid, one of the main things it covers is forced marriage,

As expensive as it is, stomaching the cost of having a physical British passport is very worth it. Without it, it will be difficult to find work or enroll in education.

I really would recommend contacting Karma Nirvana if you haven’t already.
they have extensive experience of FM and this type of situation. I’ve worked with them many times.

I would ask the informal guardian to contact CSC again as this is a child who may not be able to access education, work, apprenticeships, finance, NHS Because they have dumped her with a well meaning adult and shut their fucking file.

You have done an admirable job in trying to assist but I am damn sure that with data sharing they will be able to get her NHS number, arrange for an NI number and have her passport number.
where is her child benefit going to?
what funds have been allocated to the “informal guardian”
She should be a LAC as she is still at risk of FM.
what is the risk to her guardian if parents find out where she is living? What risk assessment has been conducted.

I could go on as I am furious on behalf of the child, yourself and the guardian who have all been left in the lurch.

So doctors are automatically good people/good home? Harold Shipman anyone?

Call Help to Claim (run by Citizens Advice) for help with getting her UC claim started. 0800 144 8444

Visa category should be at the top of the Visa page. Should say something like
"Skilled Worker Visa",
"Partner (Family) Visa",
"Student Visa",
"Indefinite Leave to Remain"
or for children "Dependant of ....".

This. @likelysuspect What the FUCK are you on about?

Well done for advocating for this girl, OP and to your friend for taking her in. @leavesinthebreeze

Also, some Citizen Advice branches have Immigration trained staff. And that would be free initially. I know that Preston and NWKent did.

Just coming on to add contact your MP and ask for help. In person at a surgery if they have one otherwise by email

I have left a message for my MP (currently on summer recess!), have spoken to Bangladesh Consulate and found she does have the 17 digit personal number on her passport. Also waiting for Nirvana Karma to call back 😀 Thank you all

OP has already said that she and the people the girl is staying with have no funds to engage a solicitor.

We have her birth certificate! Hopefully opening a bank account for her tomorrow. She’s also got into college 😀
We had a UC apt last week and they said she is entitled to nothing. And basically the lady she is staying with (who is putting a roof over her head, feeding her, clothing her, putting credit on her phone) has agreed to cover everything (not true) but because this lady is not her legal guardian she isn’t entitled to anything. So now we need to look into that. The amount of brick walls we have hit for a young girl who could right now either be on the streets or in a kids home is shameful.

So glad she’s got her birth certificate! That’s a huge step forwards. How did you get it? Maybe the MP can get some movement on the universal credit.

The birth certificate is good news. Onwards and upwards.

I had similar, left home due to abuse although over 18. I got her a new UK passport (luckily had British passport as well as overseas).

Police went to her house to get the passport and her dad lied and said she took it with her so must be lost.

I have read more of the thread. I would call the forced marriage line at the Foreign Office and also try and get a FMPO. Did SS know about the FM risk?

A pp said about her bc number being on her passport/visa which we didn’t realise so huge massive thank you to that poster! 💐

Currently on hold to SS to see what other support they can offer

This got her the bc. Thank you so much!

Well done on the birth certificate. That’s a breakthrough.

Might be worth trying going back to social services on the benefits or financial support front. May need to imply that the person shes currently with can’t financially support her indefinitely and she’ll need to look for alternative safe accommodation through a foster placement if nothings available. That might get the right kind of attention.

I am on the phone to SS currently. They are saying it is nothing to do with them it is to do with her legal guardians (her parents who she has run away from) they said they don’t just give out money. 🙄 Told them I’m not asking for just money I am asking for support. What if the lady she lives with says no more and the girl goes into care? Why is there no support or advice? They have put me back on hold 🤦🏽‍♀️

I have strongly implied she will have to go into care but it’s hard because she isn’t living with me! It’s just ridiculous.

She’s also got into college

Can you speak to the college once she is enrolled? They very likely have experience of students who are estranged from their parents. They might have experience of the specific issues around this young lady. If there's nothing on the college website signposting you to the proper person, ask to speak to someone on a safeguarding issue.