Main theme
Social services, accommodation, and welfare benefits
Other relevant themes
Access to education, access to health care and psychological support, access to information and legal advice, employment, life projects
Actors involved
The organisation has worked with a range of local partners to support the young people’s integration, including, but not limited to, partnerships with schools, employers, landlords, hospitals, health clinics, and doctors.
Aims
The mission is to provide a safe, welcoming refuge for young migrants in the community and support them to rebuild their lives and have a better future.
Description
Centre Bernanos runs primarily with volunteers (approximately 100, only six employees) and is completely independent of the State. Since 2016, it has been providing an integrated support service for homeless young people who are waiting for their age assessment to be completed by the French authorities. As these young people cannot access state supports, the centre offers a range of services including shelter (a dormitory for 12 people, and rooms to hold eight girls), food, access to schooling and professional training, support with their administrative processes and documents and legal supports. These are provided until the young person is legally recognised as an unaccompanied minor. The supports are central to ensure that the young people access support early while they await the outcome of their assessment, and to facilitate a smooth transition to adulthood. Equally important to the transition to adulthood, the centre also provides support for those who are not granted this status. These young people receive continued support until they have successfully secured a residence permit and a job offer [“une promesse d’embauche”].
Results/ Outcomes
Centre Barnanos has supported approximately 200 young people in total. The project supports approximately 40- 45 homeless unaccompanied minors who are either waiting for their age assessment to be completed or have been refused status as an unaccompanied minor. This includes 20 young people supported in their accommodation centre. Over 70% of the young people supported by the organisation have enrolled in, or graduated from, school. They have also provided over 20,000 meals to the young people accessing their service.
Links to further information