Ukraine - A Warm Scots Future: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

CRWIA Stage 2 – Assessment of Impact and Compatibility

1. What evidence have you used to inform your assessment? What does it tell you about the impact on children’s rights? (Guidance Section 2.2)

Evidence from the EQIA prepared for the Warm Scots Future Strategic Policy Position Paper has been used to complete this assessment.

The latest demographics statistics for Scotland, as published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities up to 30 September 2023, show that 23% of all arrivals in the UK with a Scottish Sponsor (Scottish Government and Individual) were under 18 years old. Of these, 53% were male and 47% were female.

Scottish Government has published data on the numbers of Ukrainian Displaced Children enrolled in Scottish schools. Following a Scottish Government survey of local authorities, data indicates that as of 26 January 2024, 2,839 Ukrainian children were enrolled in primary and secondary schools across Scotland. Of these, 1,526 were enrolled in primary schools and 1,313 were enrolled in secondary schools. The highest overall numbers have enrolled in schools (both primary and secondary combined) located in City of Edinburgh (354), Aberdeen City (322), and Glasgow City (285).

As per the latest findings reported in the ONS UK Humanitarian outcomes survey, conducted over the period between 27 April – 15 May 2023, 36% of visa holders entering the UK under the Ukraine Humanitarian Schemes live with dependent children. A previous ONS survey (conducted between 27 February to 13 March) reported that, of those living with dependent children, 49% reported that their current childcare responsibilities limit their ability to take up work in the UK. Of those whose childcare responsibilities limit their ability to take up work, 78% stated that this is because they can only work part-time.

Interviews with hosts and people displaced from Ukraine offered some insights into ways in which age may influence a person’s needs and experience in Scotland. Although it should be noted that the interviews cannot indicate the prevalence of these experiences and this will vary depending on an individual’s wider characteristics and circumstances. A small number of hosts who were hosting multi-generational family units, observed that their younger adult guests had greater English language proficiency and were more able and confident to navigate administrative information and processes to support them to settle into life in Scotland than older adult guests, and had found it easier to develop social connections in Scotland. Adults of working age, particularly younger adults, were more likely than older adults to be looking to and planning for a mid-longer term future in Scotland.

Identify any gaps in the evidence base, and set out how you will address these.

Home Office and Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) publish visa data by age and sex of applicant for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland every quarter. In addition, Scottish Government collects and publishes data every term on the number of Ukrainian children enrolled in primary and secondary schools across Scotland. ONS also publish findings from UK Humanitarian Outcomes Survey to fill knowledge gaps on priority areas, and how best to support displaced people from Ukraine in the UK. These data releases will continue to inform decision making.

There also appears to be gaps in qualitative data and user research data as no direct engagement with displaced Ukrainian children and young people has taken place to date. We have, however, undertaken engagement and consultation with third sector and national bodies who represent the interests of children.

2. Evidence from stakeholders/Policy Colleagues (Guidance Section 2.2)

The CRWIA is informed by the stakeholder engagement undertaken in the drafting of the paper. This has involved both internal and external stakeholders.

Internal stakeholders include colleagues across the Ukrainian Resettlement directorate, colleagues across Safeguarding, Housing, Homelessness, New Scots, Refugee and Asylum Integration and Migration. Analytical colleagues from the Performance, Delivery and Resilience Directorate as well as colleagues handling user research in the Digital Directorate have also provided input.

External stakeholders includes Scottish Local Authorities, third sector organisations and charities including the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC), the Ukrainian Consul in Edinburgh, and the Ukraine Stakeholder Reference Group which is co-Chaired by Scottish Ministers, COSLA and SRC. These stakeholders possess lived experience representation of displaced people from Ukraine. The paper has also been presented to the Scottish Government Safeguarding group which includes external stakeholders consisting of numerous local authorities, COSLA, SRC, Police Scotland, the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland, Disclosure Scotland, Survivors of Human Trafficking in Scotland, Social Work Scotland and representatives from the Scottish Government’s Safeguarding, Child Protection and Adult Support and Protection units. These stakeholders collectively offer a significant insight into the experiences of displaced people from Ukraine.

The paper has also been developed with consideration of the evidence provided by the Ukrainian Consul at a number of Parliamentary Committee meetings. This has provided lived-experience insight into the issues faced by those displaced from Ukraine in Scotland. The Consul raised examples of displaced people being unable to access nurseries and schools within their communities, issues with accessing healthcare, lack of access to ESOL, housing issues and employability barriers.

These stakeholders offer significant insight into the experiences of displaced people from Ukraine, including children and young people. Feedback was provided by Barnardos and the British Red Cross to highlight the direct experiences of children and young people and how their needs should be considered in the development of the strategic priorities within the paper. Other feedback from the Stakeholder Reference Group has highlighted the barriers that people displaced from Ukraine are facing in relation to access to school education for children.

This feedback was used to strengthen the direct consideration of children and young people in the strategic priorities.

Strategic priority one recognises the need for a trauma-informed approach and highlights the importance of meeting the specific needs of children and young people (including vulnerable and unaccompanied minors) and doing so in line with the Getting it Right for Every Child policy. Additionally, strategic priority four emphasises the need to support ongoing family reunification where children and families have been separated. The Scottish Government has committed to promoting the need for routes to reunite families in their engagement with the UK Government.

3. Evidence from children and young people (Guidance Section 2.2)

No direct engagement with children and young people has taken place. In the interests of proportionality, we are relying on the evidence gathered from the stakeholders listed above, specifically Barnardo’s and the British Red Cross.