Since the late 1930s, the British government has facilitated the arrival of varying numbers of unaccompanied refugee children through special arrangements with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Recently, however, specific steps have been taken to prevent unaccompanied children, as well as adult asylum-seekers, arriving in Britain. Little has been done to recognize children's particular needs in the refugee-determination process. In the same period, children's settlement changed from being the sole responsibility of NGOs to being shared, with NGOs providing government-funded services. Latterly, refugee settlement has been largely the statutory responsibility of local authorities; asylum-seekers, including vulnerable children have to compete with the indigenous population for resources. © 1995, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

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historical development UK non-governmental organisation policy development social policy Refugees