Children's Law Centre

Children's Law Centre

Rights House
127-131 Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 1SH
United Kingdom

Contact Details

FREEPHONE ADVICE LINE: 0808 808 5678 Email for advice: [email protected]
Our aim is to protect, promote and realise children’s rights using the framework of international children’s rights and domestic law.

The Children’s Law Centre (CLC) is an independent charitable organisation established in September 1997.

CLC is founded on the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, in particular:

  • Children shall not be discriminated against and shall have equal access to protection.
  • All decisions taken which affect a child’s life should be taken in the child’s best interests.
  • Children have the right to have their voices heard in all matters concerning them. 

CLC undertakes education, training and research on children’s rights, produces leaflets and papers on a wide range of children’s rights topics and makes submissions on law, policy and practice affecting children and young people.  We have a youth advisory group called youth@clc who inform and advise CLC’s work.

We have a dedicated free phone legal advice line for children and young people called “CHALKY”.   We offer free legal advice and information on a wide range of children’s legal rights issues.  Examples of our areas of work include education, discrimination, mental health issues, disability, human rights and criminal justice.  

CLC provides free legal representation in strategic cases in compliance with  our casework policy.  We represent at the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal, School Admission and Expulsion Appeals Tribunals and at Mental Health Review Tribunals.  We also provide legal representation in a limited number of strategic cases via Judicial Review and have undertaken Third Party Interventions in cases with a particular focus on children’s rights. 

Children's Law Centre's Services

Children's Law Centre's Content

Event
Training/Advice Workshop

Children's Law Centre

Dates:
21 March 2024
Belfast
Event
Online / Virtual Seminar Workshop

Children's Law Centre

Dates:
14 March 2024
Belfast
Event
Seminar Workshop

Children's Law Centre

Dates:
07 March 2024
Belfast
Event
Seminar Training/Advice Workshop

Children's Law Centre

For anyone who advocates for children and young people. We examine: best practice in assessing legal competency and communicating with child clients; child participation in court proceedings; legal considerations as well as reviewing current case law in care proceedings.
Dates:
27 November 2023
Belfast
Event
Seminar Training/Advice Workshop

Children's Law Centre

A legal and practical analysis of statutory duties to accommodate and provide leaving and aftercare supports for homeless young people; guidance on applying the Regional Good Practice Guidance (revised 2014) to meeting accommodation and support needs of 16 and 17 year olds (including young people who interface with the youth justice system) in advocacy practice; and an update on recent relevant case law and implications for practice.
Dates:
13 November 2023
Belfast
Event
Training/Advice

Children's Law Centre

Delivered in person and online, for everyone involved in advocating for children, we examine evolving case law, domestic law and international standards in advocating for the rights of 'Children in Need', as well as their carers, in accessing vital support services.
Dates:
09 November 2023
Belfast

More Information

Type of Organisation

VCSE

Company Number

NI33998

NI Charity Number

NI101148

Team

  • Helen Rafferty
  • Sam Nelson
  • Trevor Wright
  • Paul Hamilton