Across the UK, there are young people arriving without a parent or safe adult to care for them, and they need stable homes with carers who can offer day-to-day guidance and reassurance. When we support an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (often shortened to UASC), we’re usually welcoming a teenager who has travelled far, experienced loss or disruption, and is trying to make sense of a completely new place while also worrying about what happens next. Having a calm home base, consistent routines and a trusted adult can make the difference between simply getting through the days and actually starting to settle.

In our experience, this type of fostering asks for patience and confidence with teenagers, plus a willingness to learn about a young person’s background without pushing them to share more than they’re ready to. Many UASC are aged 11–17, and a large proportion are boys. Unlike many domestic placements, we may know very little about a young person when they arrive, so we start with the basics: safety, warmth, food, sleep, and clear house expectations, then build trust steadily over time.

What these young people may need from us

Most unaccompanied young people arrive tired, vulnerable and often frightened, and many will have lived through traumatic events before leaving home. Some have been separated from family; others may have lost relatives due to conflict or persecution. That history can show up in lots of ways: anxiety, low mood, hypervigilance, trouble sleeping, or difficulty trusting adults. Our role is to respond with steadiness and kindness, while keeping boundaries clear and predictable so the home feels secure.

They’ll also need practical help to get going in daily life here: learning English, understanding local customs, getting into education or training, and finding safe ways to join the community. Just as importantly, they need to feel someone is on their side. Advocacy can be as simple as accompanying them to appointments, helping them understand letters and forms, and making sure their voice is heard in meetings.

What it’s like to foster a young person seeking asylum

Fostering a young person seeking asylum can be challenging, but it can be deeply rewarding as you see them settle, grow in confidence, and start to plan for their future. Some carers support young people through the asylum process and the emotional strain that can come with waiting for decisions. In some cases, carers may also have to help a young person prepare for the possibility of returning to their home country, which requires sensitivity and very strong professional support around the placement.

We try, wherever possible, to match young people with families who can offer some connection to their language or culture, but this isn’t always achievable. That’s why we value carers who are resourceful and committed to helping a young person maintain their identity, for example, by supporting cultural food, faith practices, community links, and appropriate interpreting support when needed.

Specialist training and carer support

Because UASC fostering is a specialist area, we don’t expect carers to “just know” how to handle everything from day one. We provide specialist training and close support so carers understand trauma, cultural transition, communication barriers, and the practical realities of supporting young people through immigration-related processes. Just as importantly, we connect carers with others doing the same work, so there’s peer support and shared experience rather than people feeling they’re handling complex situations on their own.

How to start fostering refugee and asylum-seeking children

To offer a home to unaccompanied young people from Afghanistan or any other country, you’ll need to be approved as a foster carer. The approval process typically takes around 6 months, and it starts with checking the core requirements:

• • You are at least 21 years old
  • You have a spare bedroom
  • You are a full-time resident of the UK, or you have indefinite leave to remain
  • You have good spoken and written English
  • You have the time and availability to commit to fostering

If that sounds like you, the next step is to get in touch so we can talk through what fostering UASC involves in real terms, what support we provide, and what kind of young person might be the right match for your home.

As well as providing safe homes for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, Lotus Foster Care offers flexible respite foster care, supportive parent and child fostering placements, and siblings foster care to help brothers and sisters remain together whenever possible.