A GROUP of people from North Cornwall travelled to Westminster last week, where they spoke to their MP about the plight of unaccompanied child refugees sleeping rough.

Rob Butler, from Launceston, who has seen first hand men, women and children living in woods in Dunkirk while he was there to distribute aid, described his meeting with North Cornwall Conservative MP Scott Mann as ‘really positive’, and said the MP was ‘genuinely shocked’ to see photos Rob had taken while out in France.

Rob told the Post: “He genuinely listened to what we had to say. I showed him pictures I had on my phone. Sometimes there’s things you can’t mask when you are shocked, you can’t put that on. He was genuinely shocked at the pictures on my phone. He asked some questions that really showed an interest. He said to us, look, if you get together a couple of questions you want to ask I will put them to the Home Secretary.

“I handed a lot of letters to Scott from residents in and around Launceston, saying they would like him to take action. Other people from North Cornwall emailed him on this subject to say they supported what we were up there for.”

Many people from Devon and Cornwall travelled to London on Tuesday, October 24, to join campaigners and former child refugees on the first anniversary of the demolition of the Calais ‘jungle’.

While in London, Rob also had the chance to chat to Labour Co-operative MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Luke Pollard. Rob added: “They are all very supportive of the Dubs scheme and unaccompanied minors in France getting over here safe.”

The Dubs Amendment scheme was launched to enable a number of unaccompanied children to come to live safely in the UK — even if they did not have a straightforward family link here. It was named after the man who led to the scheme being introduced, Lord Alf Dubs. He was a child refugee himself when he was younger, as he came over to the UK from Czechoslovakia when it was occupied by the Nazis during World War Two.

Outside Parliament, campaigners, former child refugees, the charity Safe Passage, Help Refugees, community and faith leaders, praised the authorities — saying thank you to the UK Government for ensuring that 750 unaccompanied child refugees were given swift, safe and legal access to the UK.

Lord Dubs, who was there on the day, was presented with a plaque by former refugees, thanking the British people and Parliament.

Amid the thanks, concerns were raised that a year after the Calais camp was bulldozed, desperate refugees are again, gathering in northern France.

Jo and James Rider, from Lezant, also travelled to London last week along with Rob and Charlotte Barry from Wadebridge.

Jo said: “It was a very moving experience to stand outside Parliament with so many wonderful people who were all working to help humanity, and to see some of the children who were granted refuge last year.

“They presented a plaque to Lord Dubs. It said: ‘We thank the British people and Parliament for giving us peace. We found a beautiful life in the UK, so different to the life we fled. We were suffering, but now we are safe. From the refugee children brought safely to the UK from the Calais ‘jungle’ camp in 2016’.

“It was good then to meet our MP Scott Mann in Westminster Hall, and to have him assure us that he would raise the question of bringing over the remaining children who our government had committed to bring over last year and who are now living in such dangerous and difficult conditions whilst waiting months and months to be processed.”

Mr Mann said: “I was very pleased to meet with Mr Butler and fellow campaigners in Parliament to hear their concerns about the safety of unaccompanied child refugees in Europe.

“Britain has a very proud record of taking in refugees. Since 2010 over 50,000 people have been granted asylum in Britain, with 5,700 unaccompanied children being taken in since 2012.

“After consultation with local councils, the Government said it would take 350 unaccompanied children under the Dubs Scheme on top of many other children who are brought to the UK to be reunited with their families under the Dublin Convention. It would be wrong for the government to commit to a specific number without knowing what capacity local authorities have, and it has taken the correct approach. On behalf of those who came to meet me in Parliament, I have asked government ministers to update me on what progress the Home Office has made in fulfilling its commitments under the Dubs Scheme.”

Beth Gardiner-Smith, senior campaigns organiser for Safe Passage, said: “We acknowledge the efforts made by the government 12 months ago, but fear there is no longer a sense of urgency about what is still a crisis. There are some 200 unaccompanied children in and around Calais, sleeping rough in woods and at the mercy of traffickers. We’ve heard disturbing reports that police have been using pepper spray — directly at children — to disperse them at night.

“This shouldn’t be happening. Last year it took just days to safely and legally reunite children with their family in Britain. Now, it can take up to a year. We’re talking about vulnerable young people who are scared and losing faith in a system that is legal and instead risking their lives attempting dangerous routes. The UK and French Governments must now urgently improve access to safe and legal routes for these children.”

Josie Naughton, CEO and founder of Help Refugees, said: “The demolition of the Calais ‘Jungle’ didn’t solve the refugee crisis in Calais. Children are still on their own sleeping rough with nothing but a blanket to keep them warm.

“The government promised to resettle 480 children under the Dubs Amendment. But one year since the closure of the camp and nearly 300 of these places remain unfilled. We are here today to demand that at the very least all 480 places are filled before the end of the year, to protect at least some of the children of Calais from freezing temperatures this Christmas.”

Rob set out to France again on Sunday, October 29, to work on the ground and again distribute aid.

He expressed his grateful thanks to the Bude BLEND Youth Collective, who after reading a recent report about Rob’s efforts, have collected donations over a number of weeks, which Rob has taken with him to France.

He said: “That’s really touched me, seeing the youngsters getting involved. There are a lot of positive things going on.”

A container of aid that was packed full with donations from across Devon and Cornwall, including from Launceston Refugee Support Group, went to Moria Camp in Lesvos, Greece, leaving Saltash on October 21.

Rob described the amount of donations as ‘incredible’, and added: “In amongst all the bad we sometimes forget how much good there is out there.”