Arrival Packs

The need for arrival packs

Around 4,000 children arrive alone each year and claim asylum in the UK. Separated young people arriving in the UK are often without access to clean and warm clothes, and basic amenities due to restrictions while travelling and conditions they endure.

The Separated Child Foundation provides an Arrival Pack for young people requiring one. Each pack begins with a reusable duffle bag, which is filled with a washbag of basic toiletries and a towel, socks and underwear, warm clothing (tracksuit), a waterproof jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf, a notepad and pen, and other essentials. 

Arrival packs

The arrival packs are distributed through the charities and local authorities who children first encounter when they arrive in the UK. Our approach is that children are entitled to the packs rather than viewed as a hand-out and they offer dignity to the child; something that are unlikely to have experienced on their journey to the UK. 

Here is our short video which explains more about arrival packs:

How arrival packs are produced

A team of volunteers from The Separated Child Foundation prepare arrival packs. We are supported by Big Yellow Self Storage who provide storage facilities and a pack preparation area free of charge. The goods that make up the arrival pack cost £45 including distribution and would be worth around £100 on the high street. This project is proving to be very effective: for the separated children and young people who have already received one from us, it has made a simple but important difference to their everyday life.

Arrival Packs currently distributed through our charity partners, including The Refugee Council and Guardianship Scotland amongst many others, as well as local authorities across the UK, and providers of accommodation for unaccompanied minors and refugee support organisations.

At present we work with over 180 partners, in order to distribute our packs across the UK.

Find out how to apply for arrival packs for your organisation here