About Us

Children Law UK is a small but influential charity established over 30 years ago. We bring together professionals and policy makers who work in the legal field. Our aim is to ensure that children, young people and their families involved in legal proceedings receive the very best outcome from those proceedings.

Each year our work benefits approximately 25,000 children who are involved in legal proceedings. By nature of being involved in such proceedings the vast majority of these children are extremely vulnerable.

Children Law UK is a membership organisation and whose members work together to ensure the paramountcy of the child and young person in conflict and distress. To find out more about becoming a member click here.

OUR PURPOSE

To promote better justice for children

OUR VISION

1. The child is a whole person
   • in all legal proceedings relating to a child, the child's welfare is the primary consideration
   • issues of care and of justice are always considered together in a holistic approach
2. The child has a voice
   • in all legal proceedings relating to a child, the child has a right and a realistic opportunity to state his or her views
   • the child is given effective support to state his or her views
3. The child's voice is heard
   • in all legal proceedings relating to a child, professionals and decision makers engage effectively with the child
   • practitioners and decision makers are trained and supported to apply the holistic approach and to hear the voice of the child.
4. The child is treated as a child
   • the age of criminal responsibility is raised to at least 14
   • every effort is made to deal with concerns about a child before formal court settings.