Local government responses to destitute children and families subject to immigration welfare restrictions

This event launches the report “Safeguarding children from destitution: Local authority responses to families with ‘no recourse to public funds’”. 

This research, funded by The Nuffield Foundation, explores a contradiction between a requirement in immigration law that excludes some families from accessing support from the welfare state (‘no recourse to public funds’) and a provision in the Children Act 1989 (Section 17) that requires local authorities to provide services to safeguard and promote the welfare of any child that is ‘in need’ and to keep families together. It sets out the findings of an 18 month study conducted in 2013-2014 which investigated the challenges to which that contradiction gives rise, for local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and for the children and families concerned. The event will include a presentation, and Q&A with a panel of experts.