Imagine trying to live on just £9 a week. That’s less than the cost of a sandwich and a coffee. Now, imagine having to stretch that amount to cover not just your own needs, but those of your children. Imagine trying to put food on the table, clothes on their backs, and shoes on their feet, while knowing that the new school year is just around the corner, and you need to somehow find the money for uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies. It's an impossible budget and for many families seeking asylum in the UK, this is not just a hypothetical situation, it’s their daily reality.
These families are surviving on the bare minimum, forced to make impossible choices between basic necessities. Do they buy a pair of shoes that actually fit their child’s growing feet, or do they put that money towards a meal? Do they send their child to school without the required uniform, knowing the shame and stigma it might bring, or do they go without essentials themselves? As the new school year approaches, these challenges only become more overwhelming. Every item on the school supplies list is another source of stress, another question mark in a life already full of uncertainty.
The educational challenges faced by asylum-seeking children are deeply concerning. According to a report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) are, on average, 37.4 months behind their non-migrant peers in GCSE attainment. This attainment gap is similar in magnitude to that experienced by children with severe special educational needs, and highlights the disadvantages these children face in our education system.
Even those asylum-seeking children who are resettled with their families or receive government support are not unaffected. These children still trail behind their non-migrant peers by approximately 17.3 months at the GCSE level, placing them at a significant educational disadvantage. The reasons for this are multifaceted, ranging from language barriers and disrupted schooling to the psychological trauma many of these children have endured.
Living on £9 a week only makes things worse. When families are unable to afford adequate food, clothing, or school supplies, it creates an environment where children are not only deprived of basic needs but are also set up for failure in the classroom. The financial strain is compounded by higher rates of school absence and exclusion among asylum-seeking children. The EPI report highlights that UASC experience higher rates of fixed-period school exclusions (7.1% compared to 5.2% for non-migrant children) and slightly higher school absence rates, further hindering their ability to keep up academically.
At Goods For Good, we recognise that these challenges are not limited to asylum-seeking families alone. Many families across the UK are facing financial struggles, trying to make ends meet on impossibly tight budgets. That's why, through our Back to School initiative we provide support to families in need, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, can start the school year with dignity and confidence.
Our Back to School initiative is focused on collecting donations of school supplies, uniforms, and financial contributions that enable us to support the families who need it most. Whether it's helping an asylum-seeking child get their first school uniform or providing a single parent who is struggling with the essentials to prepare their children for school, our goal is to bridge the gap between the challenges these families face and the opportunities their children deserve.
By supporting our initiative, you can make a difference in the lives of these children. Together, we can provide them with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond, giving them hope for a brighter future. Join us in this critical effort. Let’s ensure that no child has to navigate the school year alone, especially not when they are already facing such overwhelming odds. To find out more about our Back to School initiative and the items we need, click the link below.
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