Launches of our new unaccompanied asylum-seeking children programme

We launched our new Beeing Together programme a few weeks ago for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Wigan and Stockport.

We are partnering with  Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, with the programme being funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

We are pleased to be offering the Beeing Together programme to young people across Greater Manchester who are seeking support and can gain new skills and experiences by coming along to these new sessions.

The launches of the programme took place in Wigan and Stockport and marked the start of the exciting opportunities for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children to get involved with the charity.

Over the next three years GMYN will be supporting 240 unaccompanied children who live in the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Three new members of GMYN staff will be leading this programme. Eleanor Reardon will be the Programme Manager, Sarah Sunarko will be the Programme Coordinator and Faisal Al Raisi will be the Programme Worker. 

Eleanor says: “The new programme we are running at GMYN will combine a mix of group sessions with young people, including sports, arts and craft, music and life skill sessions. We will run regular group sessions where the young people can socialise and get comfortable with GMYN’s youth workers.

“We will also be running one on one provisions for young people who need the most support. We can signpost the young people to other service providers if they need further help as well. 

“There is lots of scope for the young people who join this specific programme to attend other programme sessions too, mixing with other young people across Greater Manchester. We want our young people to be able to take part in all opportunities and events, which also helps those who have lived in Manchester their whole lives to learn about the experiences of others they may not have come across before.”

The programme is partnering with Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, which is providing legal support for any young people who need that. The young people will be able to receive advice on the asylum process and support with campaigns on issues that affect them.

For more information on how unaccompanied asylum-seeking children can get in touch with us, please see here.