ISLINGTON LAW CENTRE
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Mission Statement
To make the immigration and asylum systems safer and fairer and work in the best interests of children and young people
About This Cause
MiCLU represents children and young people who have been displaced by war, are fleeing abuse, were trafficked into the UK for exploitation and slavery and those who have lived in the UK for long periods of time but are undocumented. These young people are often separated from their families and effectively “invisible” in terms of civil and legal status because of immigration laws. Through our strategic litigation, policy reform and public legal education initiatives we drive systematic change to achieve equality and social justice for this group of young people. Our main projects at the moment are partnership projects with KIND UK, and with Shpresa Programme through our Breaking the Chains project. Through KIND UK we provide free advice and representation with the support of pro bono corporate partners to children in families who have lived in the UK for many years, but remain undocumented, or do not have British citizenship because they are unable to secure legal advice. We have a 100% success rate in securing leave to remain and citizenship for children so far, despite taking on complex cases. Our project allows us to build relationships with organisations supporting undocumented families, and with corporate firms, organisations which do not generally have a huge amount of crossover. This contact benefits everyone, not least our clients who are treated with courtesy, respect, and receive a fantastic service. Our Breaking the Chains project is a partnership project delivered with a grass roots user-led community organisation. The aim of that project is to improve the outcomes for Albanian children and young people seeking asylum in the UK. The project ensures that children and young people have a voice in the asylum system, are able to participate effectively, and are supported to set out their need for protection clearly. Asylum seeking children and young people are particularly vulnerable, having been forced to flee their home country due to traumatic events. In addition to this, Albanian children and young people are at high risk of trafficking and exploitation in modern slavery, but their asylum claims are not well understood, and the government constantly pushes a false narrative that Albanian is a 'safe' country. Our work with and for young Albanians is already achieving results. In 2017 (before the Breaking the Chains partnership project began) only 1 child from Albania was granted asylum by the Home office. In 2021 – 9 children from Albania were granted asylum by the Home Office. In the year ending June 2022 58 Albanian Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children were granted asylum. At MiCLU we are committed to ensuring that children's needs and voices are at the heart of our services, and that they are able to engage effectively with systems that have such power over their lives.