DORSET is continuing to lobby the Government to meet the full costs of the 67 unaccompanied asylum-seeking refugee children it is currently responsible for as part of a national scheme.

The number is allocated to the county as part of the National Transfer Scheme for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UAS Children).

Currently not all of the children live in Dorset with many being found homes outside the county, often in communities where there are others from a similar background.

But whether they are outside the county, or living within its borders, the Government is only meeting accommodation costs with local council taxpayers meeting the bills for social worker support, travel to visit the youngsters, who are predominantly teenage boys; and the cost of other services such as interpreters and psychological support to help deal with the trauma of being a refugee and being separated from, or losing family members.

Executive Director of children’s services Theresa Leavy said Dorset was proud to have made the commitment to meet the requirements of the scheme, although not all councils had.

Speaking about the Afghan refugee base which has recently been set up at the Chickerell army camp , as part of a separate scheme, she said: “I’m very impressed by people’s ability to step up, lean in and help out.”

In response to a question from Weymouth councillor David Gray, who remarked that it felt like Dorset was not in complete control of the scheme and did not appear to have contingency funding should the Government increase the numbers, Ms Leavy said she shared the fear that the numbers were likely to increase, year on year.

A budget report to councillors said: “The Home Office funding does not necessarily cover the full costs for supporting these young people, and therefore increased budget is needed to create a team and cover other costs, such as interpreters. We continue to lobby the Home Office for adequate funding to cover actual costs.”