KIND UK (Kids in Need of Defense) offers training and publishes resources for those working with children, young people and families who may experience nationality and citizenship issues.
Most professionals working with children, young people and families are not experts in immigration and nationality law, but they are in a key position to identify those who may need legal help.
KIND UK provides free legal help to children, young people and families as they navigate the UK’s immigration and nationality procedures, and we campaign for systemic change to ensure that all children are safe and able to thrive regardless of their immigration or nationality status.
Click here to find out more about KIND. Click here to find out more about our services and making referrals.
Training
KIND offers regular training events for those working with children, young people and families.
We currently have no training events scheduled. Please check back later.
Reports & Briefings
Notes and changes
29 September 2023 – these guides refer to the registration fee applicable at time of publication. These fees will increase as of 4 October 2023, with the fee for registering a child as a British Citizen rising to £1,214.
Support for children in need under Section 17: Local Authority obligations after BCD vs BCT
August 2023
BCD vs BCT (January 2023) confirmed that local authorities must provide Section 17 support at a welfare standard for families of children in need where the parent or carer is lawfully in the UK
British Citizenship for Children
A guide
July 2023
Having British citizenship means that the UK is your home, and you have the right to live, work and belong here. This guide provides an overview of routes to British citizenship.
Discretionary Citizenship
A guide for children, young people and families
July 2023
Not all children born in the UK automatically have British citizenship from birth. But lots of children living in the UK are eligible to become British citizens. The Home Office can grant British citizenship on a discretionary basis where a child has strong ties to the UK.
The Good Character Requirement
A guide
July 2023
Lots of children living in the UK are eligible to become British citizens. Most of them must show that they are of ‘good character’ if they are age 10 or older.
Children in Need
A guide for local authorities
July 2022
Helpful information for professionals working with children in need (and their families) who are not British citizens, including how local authorities can find out about a child’s nationality and immigration status, refer children and families for legal advice, and access other sources of support.
Children in Need (Scotland)
A guide for local authorities in Scotland
October 2022
Helpful information for professionals working with children in need (and their families) who are not British citizens, including how local authorities can find out about a child’s nationality and immigration status, refer children and families for legal advice, and access other sources of support.
Routes to children’s nationality and immigration status
July 2022
A summary of some of the ways that a child’s immigration status can be improved or they can acquire British citizenship.
EEA National Children in Need
A briefing on support for children in need who are EEA nationals or family members of EEA nationals, residing in the UK after the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, focusing on local authorities’ duties to provide support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 (England).
Resources
Flowchart: How local authorities can help children improve their immigration status or acquire British citizenship
Immigration Support for Children in Care and Care Leavers: Policy Resource for Local Authorities
A guide for local authorities
July 2023
KIND UK contributed to the South London Refugee Association’s briefing for local authorities on providing support for care leavers
(EXTERNAL) Download this resource from the SLRA website, here
KIND UK is not responsible for the content or availability of sites hosted by other organisations
There is an accompanying video by SLRA and Coram Children’s Legal Centre (a KIND partner Hub)
Glossary of terminology for children’s immigration, asylum, and legal issues
Guide for older teenagers, parents, carers, and other non-legal practitioners
July 2023
(EXTERNAL) MiCLU Glossary
KIND UK is not responsible for the content or availability of sites hosted by other organisations
KIND partner organisation MiCLU (the Migrant Children’s Legal Unit at Islington Law Centre) produced a glossary of legal terminology, focussing on common terms in immigration, asylum, and nationality law. This guide also includes information on legal terms used in relation to children in care.
Case Studies
A selection of case studies from KIND and our partners.
These are based on real examples that demonstrate particular issues that those working with children, young people and families will encounter. Many also include analysis of best practice.
All names and some details have been changed to protect identities. Some are composite case studies drawn from different examples.
Khalima
Child in need taken into care, EU Settled Status for relative of EEA national, domestic violence
Marco
Child in care: EEA national, good character requirement
Tarin and Family
Support for EEA children in need, pending Pre-Settled Status
Atu and Ebo
Children in need, NRPF, disabilities, inadequate legal advice
