Ukraine - Super Sponsor Scheme - 16 interventions: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment

7. What evidence have you used to inform your assessment?

We gather a range of evidence and information on displaced people from Ukraine, including:

• Monthly Scottish Government statistical publication on Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland: Next steps and additional sources - Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland: statistics - March 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Monthly Scottish Government education analytical services dashboard on Ukrainian children enrolled in Scottish schools: Pupils displaced from Ukraine | Tableau Public
• Weekly DLUHC statistics on Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Visa data by country, upper and lower tier local authority:
• Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Visa data by country, upper and lower tier local authority - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Weekly data on applications, visas issued and arrivals in the UK (including Ukraine Family Scheme): Ukraine Visa Schemes: visa data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Quarterly DLUHC statistics on Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Visa data by age and sex of applicant: Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Visa data by age and sex of applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Expressions of interest data reconciliation exercise: Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme in Scotland: expressions of interest data reconciliation exercise – February 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• OCEA paper on Ukrainian displaced people - economic impact of migration:Ukrainian displaced people - economic impact of migration: discussion paper - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Office for National Statistic (ONS) experimental statistics on sponsors’ experiences of Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme: Experiences of Homes for Ukraine scheme sponsors - follow-up, UK - Office for National Statistics
• ONS experimental statistics on experiences of visa holders entering the UK under the Ukraine Humanitarian Schemes: Visa holders entering the UK under the Ukraine Humanitarian Schemes, Outcomes Survey - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)
• Analysis of Ukrainian nationals entering employment in the UK: Analysis of Ukrainian nationals entering employment in the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• People displaced from Ukraine - interviews: summary report: https://www.gov.scot/collections/ukraine-analysis-and-statistics/

However, there is unfortunately limited evidence available on the views and experiences of children and young people within the Ukraine response programme.

A survey was recently conducted via Ukraine Advice Scotland, a service funded by the Scottish Government and run by the independent charity Just Right Scotland, to explore the views of Ukrainian citizens arriving in Scotland.^[2] Although this study focuses on adults rather than children and young people, it provides a useful snapshot of the experiences of those in welcome accommodation in the form of hotels and cruise ships. Whilst the overall survey response was generally positive, areas of concerns were raised. One of these was around uncertainty around timeframes and next steps. Issues were also raised around feeling uncomfortable/unsuitable for living with children, the quality of food, location of accommodation and unmet additional needs (e.g. caring for a disabled child). These findings highlight the need for longer-term solutions such as hosted accommodation or social housing, something which we are ultimately striving towards.

Examining the policy landscape for children’s services in Scotland finds a number of legislative approaches that shape the services for children and young people arriving from Ukraine. As per the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, children are classified as ‘individuals under the age of eighteen years.’ There is a rights-based approach to support the wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland called ‘Getting It Right for Every Child’ (GIRFEC). Its principles are based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and a National Practice Model has been developed to allow practitioners to suitably apply these.^[3]

Under the visa scheme, children arriving in Scotland from Ukraine are entitled to the same rights as children already living here. This means they are entitled to an education and have access to the same level of services and benefits as people who reside here.