The number of unaccompanied asylum seekers sent to Gloucestershire in the past five years has been revealed.

Figures released in a Freedom of Information request to the Local Democracy Reporting Service showed that 63 children seeking asylum were sent to Gloucestershire since the start of 2013.

The county council has had to take these children under its wing, as it is legally obligated to do, and provide specialist support for them.

In 2016, 16 unaccompanied asylum seekers arrived in the county compared to just two the previous year.

So far in 2018, 16 asylum seekers have been children.

Since the start of 2013 the total cost of supporting these children stands at £796,807.99.

Councillor Richard Boyles, cabinet member for children and young people at the county council, said: “Every child in need has the right to our care and support, no matter where they come from – unaccompanied asylum seeking children often arrive to us from the most horrific circumstances and situations.

“Whilst Gloucestershire has a lower level of unaccompanied asylum seekers than other areas, it’s likely that these children need specialist support, such as interpreters. This makes it one of a number of expensive challenges we face in children’s services.

“We continue to work hard to make sure all children receive the care and support they need and have access to our schools, but to do this we need social workers and foster carers.”

Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (GARAS) help to educate and provide advice for asylum seekers in the county.

Adele Owen, director of GARAS, said: “We have a dedicated UASC Support worker whose role is to provide advice and support to the young people (this includes all UASC within Gloucestershire including those placed in the county by other local authorities) and to ensure that they remain in the centre of their care and their needs are supported.

“Education is a huge issue for UASC, as most arrive around 15 years old it becomes harder to get them into school. So the youngsters come to GARAS every weekday for education while they prepare to get into other full time courses. They learn English, some Maths and simple science and also about living in the UK.

“GARAS provides emotional support through psychotherapy, provided to both adults and children. We have a team of six who come in one day a week to provide this help.

“The team includes a Clinical Psychologist who specialises in working with young people. So the team is able to provide one-to-one support alongside group work run by the Clinical Psychologist in helping with coping methods for those experiencing many of the sadly common experiences linked with PTSD and other concerns linked with their life experiences. The clinical psychologist also works with the foster carers to help them with coping techniques.”