A coalition of refugee support organizations, including the Refugee Council and Barnardo's, has urged the UK government to discontinue the Home Office's national age assessment board (NAAB), which was established to determine the ages of young asylum seekers. This call comes in light of a report indicating that the assessment process has been harmful to many children, claiming that some feel the assessors are "out to get them." Many young asylum seekers arriving in the UK, often in distressing circumstances, have reported that the evaluation process has caused significant emotional distress, leading to increased mental health issues, including self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

The report highlights how the rigorous assessments conducted by the NAAB, which employs over 50 social workers, are reportedly more intense and traumatic compared to the assessments conducted by local authority social workers. As a result, the report warns that mistakenly assessing a child as an adult can have dire implications, potentially leading to abuse and exploitation of vulnerable refugees. Activists argue that the emotional toll of these assessments is unacceptable and must be addressed with urgency.

In light of these findings, the coalition of NGOs is advocating for a complete overhaul of the age assessment system, emphasizing the need for a more compassionate approach that prioritizes the welfare of children. They believe that the Home Office must recognize the profound psychological impact these assessments have on young asylum seekers and should work towards implementing practices that support their well-being rather than exacerbating their trauma.