CLC Welcomes Covid Inquiry Focus on Children and Young People
29 September 2025
The Children’s Law Centre (CLC) has welcomed the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s focus on children and young people, as module eight of the Inquiry gets underway. The Inquiry will hear a range of evidence over the coming weeks, focusing on the impact of the pandemic, as well as pandemic related policies, on children and young people.
During the pandemic, CLC consistently raised serious concerns about the adverse impact being felt by children and young people, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, children in care and children with a range of vulnerabilities. The Centre also witnessed firsthand the impact on children’s mental health, diminished access to health and social care services and access to education.
The rights of children and young people were often overlooked and decisions were taken without any consultation with children or children’s advocates. As a result, entirely avoidable harm was inflicted on many children, with the impact still being felt today.
The Children’s Law Centre had previously joined calls to ensure the UK Covid-19 Inquiry would properly consider the impact of the pandemic on children and young people and so we welcome the fact that module eight’s hearings commence today.
It is vital that lessons are learned and that the rights of children and young people are considered at the heart of decision making. Too often, children and young became invisible when decisions were being made. This led to long lasting harm that can never be allowed to happen again.
Watch ‘Sedated and Abandoned’, a story from CLC’s work during lockdown