CARIS - for children and young people
who are asylum seekers or refugees in Scotland
Family
- Is it OK for me to look after my younger brothers or sisters in the house if there are no adults there?
- What can I do if an adult is treating me badly at home?
- What can my parents do during the day if they can't work?
- Do I need my parents permission to get married?
- If we are having problems with people who live in our flats or nearby what can we do?
- Can my parents keep me off school to help in the house or go with them to their appointment with a doctor or lawyer?
- At what age can I leave home if I am not getting on with my parents?
- What can I do if my parents are moving to another city and I want to stay in Scotland?
- What can I do if our family is being shouted at and racially abused?
- What are the rules if you or one of your sisters/brothers is in trouble with the police?
Education
Primary
- If I don't like school can I change?
- If other pupils in school are making trouble for me, what can I do?
- Can I take time off school to celebrate my religious festivals. Is there a room at school where I can pray?
- Do I have to go to Religious Education (RE) or religious services?
- Can my parents talk to the staff at school?
- Can I tell my teacher about something bad that is happening at home?
Secondary
- If I dont like my school can I change?
- If other pupils in the school are making trouble for me, what can I do?
- If I want to change my timetable to other subjects, what can I do?
- If I am coming up to 16 years of age and want to still study, what can I do?
- Can I take time off school to celebrate my religious festivals and will the school provide a room for prayer?
- Do I have to go to Religious Education (RE) or religious services?
- Can my parents talk to the school staff?
- Can I get married while I am still at school?
- Can I tell my teacher about something bad that is happening at home?
- Who decides what exams (Standard Grate / Higher) I can sit? Can I appeal if I am not happy?
- My parents do not want me to attend sex education classes. Do they have the right to withdraw me from these?
- I want to leave school and go to college. Can I return to school later if I dont like college?
After School
- Who can go to University?
- What can I do if I do not have the required entry qualifications for University?
- Will I have to pay for full time courses at Universities or Colleges?
- What courses are free to everyone?
- Will I get financial support in addition to my fees paid if I am studying a full time course?
- Can I get a student loan?
- How can I find out what course I need to study to get the job I want?
- Where can I find information about specialised courses at College or University?
- Are there summer holiday courses at college to help with English?
Work
- At what age can I get a job/part time job?
- Can I get a (part time) job if I am an asylum seeker?
- What is a National Insurance (NI) number and do I need it for a job? How do I get one?
- Where can I get information on careers/jobs?
- Where can I find jobs (e.g. for summer)?
- How do I get some experience to help me apply for work/jobs?
- What can you do if you have an idea for a project or want to start a business?
- Do I need to get permission from the school if I want to work part time?
- If I leave school and get a job, can I go back to college/university later?
Health
- If I need to see a doctor / nurse do I have to pay?
- When I am ill, should I go to the doctor's surgery or the hospital?
- What can I do if I have sore teeth?
- What can I do if I have poor eyesight / sore eyes?
- Will someone help translate what the doctor is saying?
- Can I see a female doctor?
- At what age can I go to the doctor's on my own?
- Will the doctor tell my parents about my problem?
- Can I get medical treatment without my parent's consent?
- Are there special clinics if you think you have a sexual infection, are pregnant or want to discuss abortion?
Feeling Sad?
- What can I do if I am feeling very unhappy a lot of the time?
- What can I do if my parents are unhappy all the time?
- What can I do if any bad memory from my past keeps coming to my mind?
- What things can I do to make me feel better?
Housing
- If I want to move into a flat / house separate from my family, can I get some help with the rent?
- When can I sign to be the tennant of a flat?
- Who rents flats to young people?
- Who will help if I can't stay at home because of big arguments with my parents?
- If we are overcrowded or don't like our house, how do we get a transfer?
- Can I move away from Glasgow / Scotland?
On Your Own?
- Who can help me with my asylum case?
- How do I find a place to stay?
- Can I get my own flat?
- Do I have to move from my children’s unit when I reach 16 years of age?
- What can I do if I have a complaint about the flat/unit where I am staying?
- What can I do if other young people in my children’s unit are treating me badly?
- Who can help me with money for things like clothes or going out?
- Who can explain to me how things work in this country?
- Where can I buy food from my country or food that is halal?
- Who can give me advice about my health?
- Who can I go to for advice if I have a problem with my private life or am feeling sad a lot of the time?
- Will I be able to get education in this country?
- Am I allowed to work?
- Who can help me find a job?
- Where can I get information about places of worship?
- Are there any youth groups or befriending services for unaccompanied young people?
- I am about to reach my 18th birthday – what will happen to me?
Deportation
- Why did they start deporting people?
- Are all people who are detained in Yarl’s Wood or Dungavel deported?
- Who decides who is getting deported?
- What should my parents do if they receive a letter saying your claim is lost?
- How will it happen if someone is being deported?
- Can I take my mobile phone if I am detained?
- Will they come for us in the early morning and can we bring anything with us?
- If I am detained in England can I use a Scottish lawyer?
- What happens if you get sent back to your country?
- Can I make an appeal in Britain once I am deported?
HIV
- What is HIV/AIDS?
- Is there a cure?
- My brother has AIDS - can I still give him a hug?
- My boyfriend has HIV - what sexual activities are safe for us?
- My mum has AIDS - will she get leave to remain in the UK?
- I came to Britain on my own and have HIV – will I get leave to remain here?