Scottish Child Law Centre celebrates 30th birthday
5 April 2022
The Scottish Child Law Centre is delighted to be celebrating its 30th anniversary of providing free legal advice and training on children and young people’s rights. Since established, the Centre has advised well over 50,000 parents, carers, children and young people on their legal rights and having a major positive impact on thousands of lives.
The Centre will be hosting celebrations throughout 2022, to share their appreciation to the many supporters, partners, volunteers, members of staff and trustees whose work made the Centre a success.
Scots law, policy and practice for children, young people and their families has changed dramatically over the past three decades, and the Centre has a proud history of supporting this progress. With new leadership appointments, the team at the Centre has also renewed its determination and commitment to advocate for children and young people’s rights. It aims to use this momentum to progress further partnership opportunities that champion the equality, diversity and accessibility ambitions of the Centre.
Alongside emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the UNCRC) into Scots law, the centre’s upcoming work will be to ensure quality engagement and participation of children and young people in their advice and legal training services.
Sarah Forster, new Interim Director of the Scottish Child Law Centre said: “I’m excited to join the Centre as it is celebrating an important milestone in its journey supporting children and young people’s rights in Scotland. The pandemic has exasperated many challenges faced by families putting a strain on children’s development and well-being which has to be tackled and meaning legislation at Holyrood securing further rights for children and young people is more important than ever.
“As Scotland’s first centre for Scottish child law, we have a core role to play in empowering children and families by providing them with the legal advice and knowledge they need to navigate the day-today issues thrown up, as we transition beyond the pandemic.”
Maria Galli, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: “I’m excited that we are able to celebrate the Centre’s 30th birthday, and on behalf of everyone who has been involved over the past three decades, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to our invaluable work. I’m especially looking forward to engaging with young people who are being invited to design our new logo and to participate in, and to inform our strategic planning for many important child law and human rights issues.”
“The Centre was founded at the same time as the UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. After 30 years we have many positive areas of progress in Scotland to reflect on, but we still have work to do. Our commitment firmly remains helping those children, young people, and families who need legal advice, training or information to protect their rights.”