A controversial government-funded 'college' preparing separated young people for deportation is reported (September 2008) to be opening in Bournemouth. Called 'Alpha Project: Caring By Preparing For Return', it is aimed at 16-17 year old Afghani males. The article can be read here. 

Research published in the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry (September 2008) indicates that separated children and young people are being treated as 'refugees' or 'migrants', rather than as 'children', and that this is not in keeping with a 'psychological' perspective. An abstract of the article can be read here.

Buckinghamshire Council claims (September 2008) that the funding it receives from central government for the support of separated children and young people does not meet the real costs. An article on the subject can be read here.

The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, announced at the Labour Party Conference (September 2008) that the British government will lift, after 17 years, its immigration reservation to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The opt-out has until now allowed the UK government to place children in detention without judicial scrutiny. Jacqui Smith's speech can be heard here. She spoke about immigration in general from 09:30 onwards, on asylum from 10:55 and on child refugees at 11:10. A comment from the Refugee Council can be read here.

There are signs of delay in the Home Office's plan to disperse separated children and young people across the UK because 'specialist' authorities are demanding assurance of funding from the Home Office, according to an article (September 2008) in 'Community Care'. The article can be read here.

Promoting the emotional wellbeing and mental health of unaccompanied young people seeking asylum in the UK is a report of the Thomas Coram Research Unit (July 2008). There is an article on the subject here and an outline of the research findings can be downloaded.