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Author: Sam Nelson

New Podcast Puts Children and Young People at the Heart of the Conversation

24 October 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

A new podcast, Rights Unmuted, created and hosted by Youth@CLC, the youth advisory panel at the Children’s Law Centre (CLC), is giving young people the opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to them. Launched on Friday 24th October, the first podcast in the series includes guests Chris Quinn, the Children’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland, as well as Fergal McFerran, the Policy and Public Affairs Manager at CLC. The episode covers everything from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to viral memes, gen-z slang and votes at 16.

Throughout the series, the conversations will cover a wide range of topics selected and hosted by the young people themselves. Whether it’s global rights and the impact of worldwide conflict on children, child poverty, school uniforms or mental health, the young people aim to speak up, speak out and speak the truth about children’s rights.

Youth@CLC member Ella said: “Too often the voices of children and young people are left out of important conversations. We’re aiming to change that with our new podcast Rights Unmuted. Created, researched and hosted by young people, we’re starting the conversations that matter to us with a wide range of guests.

“We’ve been speaking to experts, people with lived experience and other young people to bring the conversation around children’s rights from the margins to the mic. From classrooms to courtrooms, no topic is off limits.”

Series one of Rights Unmuted contains 9 episodes, with episodes launched fortnightly. You can find the episodes at https://childrenslawcentre.org.uk/podcasts/ or search for Rights Unmuted on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts or Castbox.

Youth@CLC would like to thank The National Lottery’s Community Fund and The Clothworkers Foundation for their support in making the podcast happen.

Joint Statement: Withdrawal from Restraint and Seclusion Task and Finish Group

15 October 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

15 October 2025

“The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY) and the Children’s Law Centre (CLC) have yesterday written to the Minister of Education, Paul Givan MLA, reiterating serious concerns which resulted in their withdrawal from the Department of Education’s Restraint and Seclusion Task and Finish Group, as notified to his department on 13th August 2025.

“It is extremely disappointing that neither organisation to date has received any acknowledgement or response whatsoever in relation to our correspondence which confirmed our immediate withdrawal.

“Both NICCY and CLC, in good faith over many years, have made consistent and significant efforts to support the Department in this extremely urgent policy area with a view to implementation of long-awaited systemic change. Change which will prevent human rights abuses against children and protect education staff from legal liability by enabling child rights compliance in education settings.

“It was the shared understanding of all interested parties that both legislative reform at the earliest opportunity and the production of child rights compliant statutory guidance would be the vehicles through which positive change would be achieved. This is no longer the case.

“We have repeated our concerns to the Minister and emphasised a number of key recommendations which the Department had itself previously made and reported upon in March 2022, including the need for immediate  reform of Article 4 of the Education (NI) Order 1998 which permits the use of force by adults against children in education settings for the purpose of “maintaining good order and discipline”. This outdated legislative provision is incompatible with the fundamental human rights of children in a modern society.

“Through our work with children and families, NICCY and CLC are aware that potentially unlawful force has been used disproportionately against young, disabled children, who may have limited or no ability to tell their parents and carers what has happened to them. It is truly shocking in light of all of the reports and evidence available, and given all the support that has been offered, that the Department has broken its promises and allowed both children and education staff to be left in this extremely vulnerable position.

“NICCY and CLC have also called for robust recording, reporting and monitoring procedures alongside regular, mandatory, standardised training for staff in education settings, with a clear commitment to financial resourcing to facilitate full and effective implementation of the statutory guidance. 

“As matters stand, we have had no assurances that the most recent draft guidance or associated processes will guarantee the most basic children’s rights protections, or that education staff will be protected from potential legal liability when faced with decisions about restrictive practices, including use of force against children in education settings.

“Despite having taken all reasonable measures that we can to assist the Department to date, NICCY and CLC have lost all confidence that this process will lead to child rights compliant change. In a situation which may very well regress children’s rights, we can no longer remain part of the Group or any connected process.

“We urge the Minister to reflect upon all of the work that led to his Department’s recommendation in March 2022 for legislative change and ask that he honours the commitment to bring forward reform without delay.  It is his responsibility, in co-operation with others, to ensure that every child is safe and protected, valued and supported.”

CLC Welcomes Covid Inquiry Focus on Children and Young People

29 September 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

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

A Message from Our New Chief Executive

17 September 2025
Sam Nelson
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September 2025

I am delighted to introduce myself as the new Chief Executive of the Children’s Law Centre. It is a real honour to step into this role and to join such a dedicated and passionate organisation at this important point in its journey.

First and foremost, I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Paddy Kelly who led the Centre for 28 years with extraordinary commitment and vision. Paddy’s leadership and tireless work have been central to building the Children’s Law Centre into the respected and trusted advocate for children and young people that it is today.

As we look ahead, 2027 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Children’s Law Centre—a significant milestone for all who have contributed to its work over the years. This is not only a time to reflect on how far we have come, but also a chance to renew our commitment to protecting and promoting children’s rights for the future.

I want to take this opportunity to recognise and thank the CLC team—our staff, our Board, and the young people involved in Youth@CLC. Each of these plays a vital role in ensuring that the Centre remains a strong, independent, and impactful organisation. Their passion, expertise, and lived experience are what make our work possible and meaningful.

Over the coming months, we will begin the process of developing a new strategic plan. This will be a collaborative effort, guided by the voices of children and young people, and shaped by the expertise of our staff, Board, members, youth advisers and partners. Together, we will map out the next chapter for the Children’s Law Centre, ensuring we remain responsive to the challenges children and young people face today and into the future.

I am very excited to be on this journey with you, and I look forward to working alongside all of you as we continue to strengthen children’s rights and make sure that every young person’s voice is heard.

Back to School, Back to Crisis for Children with Additional Needs

8 September 2025
Sam Nelson
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Categories: News

08 September 2025 

The Children’s Law Centre (CLC) is once again encountering a surge of pupils without suitable school placements as the new school year begins. This is a pattern seen every year, particularly around transition year pupils and pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). However, CLC legal advisers believe the crisis is deepening, with the issues no longer confined to pupils in transition year groups. 

Children and families are being left in limbo, often for weeks or even months, due to delays in making placements ready. Even where a placement has been identified, work to prepare schools can drag on, leaving children without access to education and representing an annual breach to children’s human rights. 

READ: CLC Supports Teacher’s Union Calls for Change

The Children’s Law Centre continues to support these children but has once again called for urgent action by the NI Executive to address delays in finalising statements, failure to plan for specialist placements and the lack of suitable placements. 

Rachel Hogan, SEND Specialist Legal Adviser at CLC said: “For many years, disabled children have been treated like second class citizens as regards school placement, ranging from unsuitable placement or delayed placement to no placement at all. 

“We are now seeing knock on effects with children in non-transition year groups being left without a suitable place. The NI Executive needs to end this deepening crisis, ensuring the Education Authority and other public bodies work collaboratively to stabilise the special education system and ensure every child can fulfil their right to an effective education.” 

Liam Mackle, Advice Manager at CLC added: “We have been working to support individual children through this distressing time and working to raise the issues directly with the Education Authority. Delay in planning for the additional needs of pupils means that even those who are being placed, might not be able to enter those placements for weeks or months while suitable arrangements are being put in place. 

“Likewise, statements being finalised late has a further knock-on effect on school transport services being delayed, meaning many pupils can’t get to school.” 

A Call to Action 

The Children’s Law Centre has raised this issue repeatedly over the years with the Education Authority, the Department of Education and the NI Assembly’s Education Committee. Last year, young CLC client Aurelia visited Stormont to discuss the issue with MLAs.

Watch Aurelia’s Visit

This annual back to school crisis amounts to systemic human rights breaches and ongoing discrimination on the grounds of disability. Too many disabled children are being treated as second class citizens in the education system, with their futures put on hold. 

The placement crisis is not new, but the harmful impact on children and families is deepening. Urgent, systemic action is needed to ensure that every child with SEND can access their right to education without delay, disruption, or discrimination.