On Monday the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that some changes to the government’s asylum rules, first published in November 2025, will come into effect later this week.
In response to these changes, Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo’s, said:
“We remain deeply concerned about some of the UK government’s changes to asylum rules that will come into effect this week - and how they will affect children and families seeking sanctuary in the UK.
“We’re particularly worried that refugee status for children and families will be reduced to just 30 months - with repeated renewals for as long as 20 years. This has the potential to cause extreme uncertainty and anxiety for children, undermining their ability to integrate in their local community and feel hopeful about the future.
“While we welcome the news that there will be no immediate change to the five years of leave granted to children seeking sanctuary who have arrived unaccompanied, we urge the government to commit to this long term.
“At all times, we must remember that each child seeking sanctuary is, first and foremost, a child – deserving of the same love, care and security that all children need to thrive. So many of them have already faced momentous challenges when they reach the UK, including conflict and persecution.
“The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary to children fleeing danger abroad. We look forward to working with the government to make sure children’s welfare remains at the heart of our approach.”