Memorandum by the Child Migrants' Sending
Agencies Group
CHILD MIGRANTS (CM 160)
INTRODUCTION—THE
CHILD MIGRANTS'
SENDING AGENCIES
GROUPThe Child Migrants' Sending
Agencies Group consists of the following agencies and representatives:
| Barnardo's | —Collette Bradford and Nigel Bennett
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| Family Care Society | —Patricia McGrogan
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| The Fairbridge Society | —Diana Scott
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| The Children's Society | —Julia Feast
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| NCH Action for Children | —Jenny Elliot
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| Catholic Children's Society (Westminster) |
—Rosemary Keenan (Convenor) |
and (Catholic Child Welfare Council)Although NCH are part of the
Child Migrants' Sending Agencies Group they are not part of this
written submission.The group aims to further, the on-going development
of professional services to former child migrants and their families.The
objectives of the group are as follows:1. To provide a forum for
the on-going development and professional good practice relating
to work with former child migrants and their families.2. To share
information on the keeping of records and the use of IT.3. To
develop working relationships with other agencies and organisations,
both in the UK and overseas, currently involved in addressing
the needs of former child migrants and their families.4. To provide
a professional support network for those individuals employed
by sending agencies and working with former child migrants.5.
To further the development of policy, links with government and
the funding of services.The above aims and objectives of the group
will be reviewed during 1998 with a view to enabling us to respond
appropriately to the Health Committee's Inquiry into Child Migration.
The group is keen to look towards future developments in practice
and services to former child migrants and their families so that
working together, we may maximise the use of resources.We would
envisage as part of this, the development of a national forum
to look at issues of child migration and the development of good
practice and improved services to former child migrants. We would
hope to work with other agencies including the Child Migrant Trust.Inquiry
into the welfare of former child migrantsThe group welcomes the
Health Committee Inquiry into the welfare of former child migrants
and the assessment of what role the British Government and others
should be seeking to assist former child migrants to come to terms
with their childhood experiences and establish contact with their
surviving relations in the UK.All of the agencies within the group
have been involved over a number of years in responding to requests
from former child migrants and their families for information
and assistance, providing details on family background, search
for family and reunification. Such work is seen as a professional
service to be provided within the remit of aftercare services.
The ability of agencies to respond fully has been affected by
the lack of external funding for such work.All agencies acknowledge
the significant contribution of the Child Migrant Trust in bringing
to prominence the needs of former child migrants and their families.
As agencies we believes that we have made a similarly significant
contribution in assisting those formerly in our care and their
families in particular by drawing upon our professionally developed
services and expertise in after-care. It is also evident that
former child migrants and their families exercise choice in whom
they choose to work with, especially those who either identify
with a particular organisation as "family" or because
of a particular faith allegiance.All of the agencies in the group
would wish to develop closer working relationships with other
agencies and individuals working within the field of child migration.
We also believe that in working with others we need to establish
confidence based upon a common understanding of professional issues,
such as confidentiality, codes of practice and an agreed approach
to historical abuse. Such an approach could acknowledge that children
in our care may have been abused, as society today learns that
children brought up in institutions appear to be at risk of abuse.A
number of our agencies have been involved in looking at the development
of principles and standards related to historical abuse. We believe
it would be appropriate, when such principles and standards have
been developed, for them to be applied to our own agencies when
working with former child migrants.As a group of agencies, we
are keen to develop professional standards and principles in working
with former child migrants and their families. There are many
areas for development of good practice, complex issues to explore,
not least around the duty of care.One of the biggest barriers
to the on-going provision of professional services to former child
migrants is the lack of funding. As well as professional research
and counselling, there is the cost of reunions, travel, and accommodation
for former child migrants and their families. We believe that
the UK and Australian Governments have some responsibility for
underpinning the cost of such services and to ensure that former
child migrants who choose to use our agencies to work with can
continue to do so. Long term funding is therefore needed.Working
across international boundaries is expensive. Despite lack of
funding our agencies have established contacts with a number of
organisations and agencies in Commonwealth countries and examples
of good practice include working collaboratively with counsellors
and social workers abroad in providing information for former
child migrants; the sharing of information on the development
and uses of databases; the facilitation of group visits to the
UK and visits by professionals from the UK to share information
on what services are required by former child migrants, what services
are currently available, and how those services might be developed
further.The Child Migrants' Sending Agencies Group would welcome
the opportunity to give oral evidence should the Committee request
it to do so.January 1998
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