U NACCOMPANIED MINORS AND THEIR TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD A small scale comparative study between the UK ( London) and Spain ( Canary Islands) Brunel University, London, Deepika Harjani Samtani

DEFINITIONS Unaccompanied minors EC term used to define “ Any third country national or stateless person below the age of eighteen who arrive on the territory of the Member States unaccompanied by and adult responsible for them by law or custom” (2003/86/EC) Transition to adulthood The moment whereby an individual acquires legal status of adult (age 18). This term is significant due to the changes that this status has in their care received. Care system Welfare protection received in their country of reception.

R ESEARCH PURPOSES Aim Improve the understanding of the experiences of UM during their transition to adulthood acknowledging their views and feelings towards their passage. Research questions 1. What support is in place during their transition? 2. How do UM feel about their transition? 3. What do they recommend to be done? 4. Similarities VS. Differences between UK and Spain

C ONTEXT UK ( London) Child Act 1989 Sect. 17 and 20: - local authority duty of care. Leaving Care Act 2000: - Support beyond 18 up till 24* Legal status: UK Boarder Agency- Home Office. SPAIN ( Canary Islands) Law of Minor ( Ley del Menor 1/1997) Law of Migration ( Ley de Extranjería 4/200) - Centro de Menores up to Legal status regulated by immigration control of the Central Government.

M ETHODOLOGY 10 one to one interviews ( 6 UK and 4 Spain) To obtain their personal journeys and feelings. Focus groups To obtain their suggestions about how they should be treated. FROM SPAINFROM UK Mr. X, 23Mark, 19 Misahm, 22Mr. Giwa, 20 Raul, 23Smith 18 Mr. Z, 21 Adam 18 Omar, 18 Benzema, 20

F IGURE 1. CHANGES ONCE TURNED 18.

KEY FINDINGS Unprepared “ I had to live on my own, cook for myself” ( Mr. Giwa,UK, 20). Abandonment “ They have only the obligation to care for you till you are eighteen” (MrX,SPAIN,23) Care “ David helps me, he cares he is like my dad” (Raul, SPAIN,23). Behaviour “ when I was eighteen, I had the chance to go to a centre for adults; I was behaving very well because if you do then you get everything but If you don’t they don’t give you a hand, it all depends on how you behave when you are a minor” (Raul,SPAIN, 23).

V ULNERABILITY Anxiety towards their status- mostly UK. Rely on networks due to abandonment from system- Spain. People could take advantage of them- prostitution. Envy towards peers- UK+ SPAIN. Creative strategies to be equal to nationals. “ I used to sell my travel cards given by the Centre to buy bocadillos at school or nice clothes and do not feel different to my other classmates which had parents that give them everything” (Mr. X, 23)

DEPENDENCE VS. INDEPENDENCE UM wanted to earn their own income or gain qualifications- uncertainty Felt that some of their capabilities where undermined. Their agency was not in place: -Spanish and UK participants felt that the system was not preparing them enough to face challenges of adulthood. - The length of time in care caused lost of sight of their agency to adopt an active role.

R ECOMMENDATIONS BY P ARTICIPANTS A shelter A decision Skills for Life

R EFLECTIONS / CONCLUSIONS Two European countries that act very differently. Why is that occurring? Besides the numerous documents created by the EC about common approaches. Its protectiveness till 18 the way forward if we are then going to abandon them? What will be the best way? Are we really assessing their needs or just following law?

T HANK YOU ! Gracias por su atención