NEWSLETTER Autumn 2011

Children and Families Across Borders is a unique UK-based charity which identifies and protects children who have been separated from family members due to conflict, trafficking, abduction, migration, divorce and asylum.

www.cfab.uk.net

Travel Assistance Scheme Closure...

CASE STUDY

In 2002 Felicity came to the UK to take up a nursing job she had been offered in Scotland. She had worked as a nurse in South Africa since 1971. From Scotland she moved to Berkshire and worked in several different health settings.

In 2005 she was diagnosed with brain tumours which were successfully removed. She spent a year in hospital recovering from the associated paralysis, speech and physical impairment. Her surgeon described her recovery as “a miracle”.

Earlier this year, Felicity was asked by her employer to retire due to her age, and so she decided to return to South Africa to rejoin her family. She was entitled to full assistance under the scheme.

CFAB assisted with shipping her household goods and personal effects and Felicity was delighted to return home.

CFAB has recently been informed by the Home Office that after more than 40 years it has decided to end the Travel Assistance Scheme that we manage. The scheme - which was introduced as part of the 1970 Immigration Act, and was amended in 2002 - helps people with settled status in the UK to return to their country of origin when they do not have sufficient resources to fund the return themselves. The Home Office plans to close the scheme at the end of this financial year.

Originally those benefitting from the scheme tended to be older people, predominantly from the Caribbean and to a smaller degree from the Asian sub-continent, who had reached pensionable age. However, in more recent years as the pattern of immigration into the UK has changed, the applicants to the scheme have reflected the truly international origins of UK residents. For example, in the last few years one of the largest client group has been people wanting to return home to Iraq.

The majority of applicants to the scheme are categorized as “vulnerable adults.” This can often be relevant for many older clients simply due to their age, associated health problems and social circumstances. In more recent years we have seen the age of some applicants going down. Many have

only been in the UK between 5 and 10 years and have found it difficult to integrate successfully. Most are unemployed with poor work histories and even poorer prospects if they stayed here.

Over the years the scheme has helped almost 3000 individuals to return to their countries of origin. The scheme undoubtedly saves the UK taxpayer significant sums.

The closure of this scheme will mean that there would be absolutely no assistance available for people with settled status to return to their country of origin, and goes against the spirit of the legislation which introduced it in 1970. It will also cost the UK taxpayer at least £20 million over the next 10 years if the scheme is closed.

CFAB is currently appealing this decision, and is lobbying for the scheme to be switched to the Department for Work and Pensions where both the cost of the scheme and the savings it produces would be seen within the same department. The Observer and The Telegraph have both run strories on this decision which can be read at www.cfab.uk.net.

For more information about this story and the scheme please contact Marek

Ganther, Project Manager at: marek.ganther@cfab.uk.net.

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Female Genital Mutilation

The incidence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) among women in the UK is increasing:

The latest official Department of Health figures date from 2005 and show there were 65,000 women who were

victims of this in the UK. It is estimated that there are now over 100,000 victims.

Girls tend to experience this abuse between the ages of 4 and 17. This form of abuse has been practiced for centuries and is rooted in custom and tradition, being seen as a rite of

passage, an erroneous belief of associated health benefits and an erroneous religious belief.

It is most prevalent in 28 African countries, in a band that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Ethiopia on the

east coast and from Egypt in the north to Tanzania in the south (see map)

The UK Prohibition of “Female Circumcision” Act (1985) makes it an offence to carry out or to aid, abet or procure the performance by another person, of any form of FGM, except for specific medical purposes. Further legislation, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, makes it an offence for FGM to be performed anywhere on UK nationals or UK permanent residents of all ages. The 2003 legislation carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment, or a fine , or both.

However, to date no prosecutions have been bought under the UK legislation.

Many excellent projects work to raise awareness of FGM in affected communities in the UK and to educate parents and children as to the dangers of FGM. However none of these projects has focussed on gaining a prosecution.

CFAB is working with the Greater London Authority, Metropolitan Police and a London local authority to promote a project which would make a prosecution more likely. The primary purpose of this work is to use a prosecution to raise awareness of the horrific nature of this form of child abuse, and to decrease the numbers of UK girls who are victims of this.

The project we are proposing will both publicise the legislation and ensure parents who may be thinking of allowing their daughters to be abused in this way are fully aware of the legislation and that they are likely to be investigated.

CFAB believes it is vital that a concerted effort is made to highlight this ongoing abuse of children and that those abusing their children in this way are held accountable.

If you have a concern about a child who may be a victim of FGM please seek advice immediately on our Advice Line:

0 2 0 7 7 3 5 8 9 4 1

Each year CFAB welcomes students from local schools in the area to undertake 2 weeks of work experience with us.

This is a valuable opportunity for young individuals to gain experience in the work they are interested in entering in the future.

Here is a testimonial from our most recent work experience student, Josephine Agbana from La Retraite School in Balham.

Amazing. This is the word that comes to mind when I think of CFAB. When some people hear the word ‘charity’, they mostly think of quiet, boring and dull places where the majority of society go as a last ditch effort at fitting in a ‘good deed’, into their busy schedules to relieve their consciences; having neglected

the less fortunate for unthinkable periods of time. CFAB, however, bring a new dimension to the term ‘charity’. They are constantly picking up new cases and doing all they can to help different people and families, liaising across different international authorities and providing solutions.

Although having to deal with unique, serious and difficult cases on a daily basis, the team at CFAB are one of the kindest, welcoming and warmest group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting (albeit briefly - only two weeks). Working with the team was a very valuable and insightful experience for me, as it helped me achieve a level of intuitiveness and maturity by watching the team deal with some very challenging cases. It also helped me to appreciate some of the things I have in my life that I take for granted;

like waking up in the morning and having my family within easy access, when some families are split up and can’t be together. The work they do at CFAB and the things they are able to achieve is truly outstanding.

Working with CFAB has been a very enjoyable and accumulating experience for me; therefore I sincerely thank all the staff at CFAB. I also thank them for the hard work they do and ask that they continue their good work.

I urge the public to get involved in any way they can, to help fight and tackle things like child trafficking and other social welfare issues.

If you are interested or know of anyone who would be interested in a similiar placement please email info@cfab.uk.net.

Work Experience Student at CFAB!

QWhat were you doing before joining CFAB?

A Prior to joining the CFAB team I was studying at

Queen’s University Belfast. I was finishing up my Social Work degree, where my final placement was in a statutory leaving care team.

Q What are you currently working on?

A I am currently building up my case load, trying to

absorb as much information as

possible about the ISS network, and looking into the other ways I can use my skills at CFAB, such as delivering training and assisting in research projects.

Q What do you enjoy most about the job?

A I enjoy being part of a process that gets a positive

outcome for a child or a family.

Q What do you hope to bring to CFAB?

A I hope to bring enthusiasm, a smiley

face and a Northern Irish accent to the team!

Q How would you describe

yourself in 3 words?

A Really loves cake.

Staff ProfileRuth Dunlop

Intercountry Social Worker

As well as being a horrendous form of abuse ,FGM has a significant impact upon the victim’s health in relation to death and illness caused by infection after the procedure, and issues relating to childbirth and sexual health.

UK victims tend to be children whose parents are from the countries indicated above. They are generally taken back to these countires during school holidays where the abuse is carried out.

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Kilimanjaro Conquered!!Stop press news! On October 20th 2011 Christina, Hannah and Shaziah all successfully summitted Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania!! This is the highest free standing peak in Africa scaling 6,000m above sea level. After 6 days of trekking the girls had to complete a gruelling 8.5 hour trek setting off at midnight in the dark and battling with temperatures and winds of -15C to reach the summit! The trip was an incredible experience, trekking through rainforests, plateaus, glaciers, and volcanic rock plains, camping on the side of the volcano and battling with the famous Barranco Wall!

We are absolutely thrilled at such an achievement and are very proud of the girls and their unwavering determination to reach the roof of Africa.

Between all three girls independently fundraising themselves, as well as the generosity of our wonderful supporters, they have managed to raise an astonishing £15,500 for Children and Families Across Borders.

A huge thank you once again to all of you who so kindly donated and supported the girls on their challenge. If you would like to pledge any further support or have not yet supported,,, please go to: www.justgiving.com/CFAB1 to donate today!!!

Thank You!

Following on from an external audit carried out in 2010, CFAB realised our services were not well known enough in the professional arena, and therefore wanted to make more Local Authorities and professionals aware of the unique service we are able to provide on international social work issues.

Since then we have launched the CFAB Roadshow! This roadshow delivers FREE training to all Local Authorities across the UK until April 2013 and is fully supported by the Department for Education.

The roadshow has been a huge success and to date we have trained over 25 Local Authorities reaching nearly 500 social workers. We already have a further 20 bookings in the calendar into 2012.

The feedback has been extremely positive from each session and all delegates are asked to complete an evaluation form before and after the training so we can measure the outcomes and amend our training if appropriate.

The training has had a very positive impact on the number of enquiries and referrals the CFAB Advice Line receives. In some cases there has been an 80% increase since training has taken place at that Local Authority!

The CFAB training programme incorporates casework examples taken from our advice line queries and case work. The two hour training introduces all aspects of international work from looked after children, contact, trafficked children, privately fostered children and the legal frameworks. It provides a 6 step guide on good social work practice, adapted from Lord Laming’s lecture in 2009. Each training session is interactive, and includes case studies and ends with a quiz.

If you and your team are interested in the free training then please contact us directly at

info@cfab.uk.net

We are already taking bookings for 2012. Hurry don’t miss your opportunity!!

BESPOKE TRAINING PACKAGES

CFAB is delighted to announce we are also offering bespoke training packages on issues including child trafficking, children in care and private fostering. This training is offered at £250 for a half day and £500 for a full days training.

If you would like more information then please email us! We look forward to hearing from you!

CFAB trains over 500 social work professionals!

The training was very interesting and educational with important information I was not aware of.

It was very thought provoking for my specific role in offering advice and guiding and shaping policy etc…Looking forward to establishing stronger links with CFAB.

CFAB training roadshow huge success in debut year

TRAINING DELIVERED ACROSS THE UK 2010/2011

Slough Social Worker

Glasgow Social Worker

CFAB Newsletter Autumn 2011

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Dates for the diary...February 8th 2012ICP Dinner at the Swiss Ambassador’s Residence - Invitation only

February 29th -18th March 2012 Swivel Theatre Company’s production of Twelfth Night at the Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone. Please call 020 7258 2925 to book your tickets today!

May 15th & 16th 2012 CFAB’s 53rd International Spring Fair at Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall

May 28th 2012 CFAB Golf Day and Gala Dinner at Stoke Park Golf Club

Unit 1.03 Canterbury Court1-3 Brixton RoadLondon SW9 6DE

Tel: 020 7735 8941Fax: 020 7582 0696

www.cfab.uk.netinfo@cfab.uk.net

Serbia 2011A Supervisors Meeting was co-ordinated by the General Secretariat in Geneva and hosted by our Serbian correspondent over two days in Belgrade in October 2011.

CFAB’s Operations Manager, Meena Enawalla, attended and took part in the following discussions and proactive plenary sessions:

The 1996 Hague Convention on Jurisdiction

Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation

International Mediation and Mediation-Based Approaches

The London Olympics and Safeguarding of Children

Intercountry casework and co-operation

A wide variety of countries were present including Israel, Netherlands, Romania, Belgium and Spain, offering excellent networking opportunities and a chance to strengthen relationships with members of the ISS Network.

The network is stronger than ever and responding to the changing needs of the increasing numbers of children crossing international borders. The meeting was a huge success and recommendations from it are currently being drawn up.

Don’t forget to check

out our blog posts on

the CFAB blog!

Visit it today !

www.cfab.uk.net/blog