ASYLUM seeker children are being left with “no food, clothes or uniform”, a charity has revealed, as it welcomed extra funding for schools taking on the children. 

Welcome To The UK, a charity based in the Victoria Shopping Centre, has helped more than 250 families of 16 different nationalities since launching back in 2014.

It was founded by Ilda Stafa who was left feeling very isolated as she couldn’t speak any English when she came to the city from Albania 11 years ago.

Welcome To The UK have been providing two English For Speakers Of Other Languages classes per week at the Skylark hotel since October. 

While no blame is being pointed at the hotel, the charity is concerned the children lack clothing and support, and are being hurt by the language barrier. 

Elsa Nathan, Southend hub coordinator at Welcome To The UK, said: “We would be delighted to hear that schools will be receiving extra funding to help children.

“We have been attending a local hotel on a weekly basis since September 2022, and it comes as no surprise to us to hear that these children are more likely to struggle in school, in comparison to other pupils.

“When children arrive at hotels, they are not provided with clothes, uniforms, and shoes. They rely heavily on charities like us to provide the essentials.

“Apart from the material things that these children do not always have access to, there is a language barrier in most cases and a psychological trauma in some cases.

“This must place a huge burden on schools, who already have to meet certain targets with existing children who are native English speakers.”

This comes as schools report a “high level of deprivation” among asylum seeker children attending schools in Southend, which is having a “significant impact” on education.

Some of the additional payments will reportedly go towards helping children settle by getting them involved in clubs, trips, and activities.

Elsa added: “We are in full support of this. These children should receive extra help to catch up with their peers.

“Their parents receive a very small amount of money from the Home Office, and it is not enough to cover the use of public transport, let alone pay for extra-curricular clubs for the children.

“This means that children do not have access to any clubs, trips, or activities, outside of what schools can offer them for free.”