NEWS CHILDREN’S LAW CENTRE AND QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY TO MARK 10 YEARS OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES CO-OPERATION ACT

“The Children’s Services Co-operation Act was born from a recognition that children’s lives do not sit neatly within departmental silos. A decade later, that truth remains unchanged.” - Professor Bronagh Byrne, Director of the Centre for Children’s Rights at QUB

“Too many children and young people are still experiencing the consequences of fragmented systems and missed opportunities for collaboration.” - Fergal McFerran, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Children’s Law Centre

“Children were failed because the systems meant to protect them did not work together. Ten years on, children are still falling through the same gaps.” - Fergal McFerran, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Children’s Law Centre

Today, along with the Centre for Children's Rights at Queen's University Belfast, we're marking 10 years of the Children's Services Co-operation Act 2015.

10 years on, children are still falling through the same gaps.

See our event programme at buff.ly/dq85bY2

CLC Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Fergal McFerran and CLC Policy and Public Affairs Officer Emma Murray together at an event in Stormont's Long Gallery.

CLC at an event in Stormont today making the case for changes to the law to give children equal protection from assault.

CLC supports long overdue change by removing the defence of 'reasonable punishment'.

Children deserve the same protections as everyone else - buff.ly/b3bkXCI

Draft Anti-Poverty Strategy “It’s worrying that the Anti-Poverty Strategy was supposed to come out ages ago and that poverty was supposed to be addressed as part of the Good Friday Agreement. If this slow work continues, divisions in communities will continue and repeat themselves.” - Youth@CLC Member

An Anti-Poverty Strategy has been a long standing commitment for the NI Executive, yet the draft Strategy has received widespread criticism. When we asked young people for their views they felt this is an opportunity that can't be missed.

Look out for our response later this week.

Trása Canavan, chair of the anti-poverty strategy group in speaking at a podium on stage with conference attendees seated in front of her.

Today we are at #RiseAgainstPoverty conference, organised at a critical moment in efforts to address poverty in NI. We’ll hear from experts and campaigners with lived experience to explore why we must do better than the current draft anti-poverty strategy from the NI Executive.

Almost ten years on from the introduction of the Children’s Service’s Co-operation Act, the recent publication of the second report on its operation lays bare its unfulfilled potential ⤵️

Youth@CLC react to the announcement on Votes at 16.

💬 “If I can go to jail, I should be able to vote.”
💼 “If I pay taxes, I should have a say.”
🎓 “It’s not just about GCSEs. It’s about real life.”

It’s not just about voting—it’s about being heard and having a say on matters that affect you.

NEWS VOTES AT 16 ANNOUCED BY UK GOVERNMENT CLC REACTS

Today’s news on plans to lower the voting age is to be warmly welcomed and must now be implemented without delay.

CLC has long argued that 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote and we pay particular tribute to the young people who have championed this cause for many years to claim their rights.

Today’s news on plans to lower the voting age is to be warmly welcomed and must now be implemented without delay. CLC has long argued that 16 and 17 year olds should be able to vote and we pay particular tribute to the young people who have championed this cause for many years to claim their rights.

Today’s UK Gov announcement to enable 16/17 year olds to vote (for their Councillors, MLAs as well as their MP) is long overdue & to be welcomed - it’s now even more crucial to ensure all young people receive properly resourced, meaningful democratic education that matches the scale of this change.

Gaza war: UN officials warn of unspeakable conditions as children bear the brunt Conditions in Gaza have reached an unspeakable level of devastation with children paying the highest price, top UN officials told the Security Council on Wednesday, warning of soaring child deaths,…

A classroom full of children are killed in Gaza every day, the UN Security Council were told yesterday alongside warnings of soaring child deaths, starvation and a shattered health system amid continuing bombardment and displacement .

Read more from the UN at

We're delighted our amazing SEND Specialist Legal Adviser, Rachel Hogan BL, won a Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year award in the Social Welfare Law category.

Here she is collecting the award alongside her family, and toasting her success alongside our Head of Legal Services Kathryn Stevenson.

🎉 Congratulations to @childlawcentre.bsky.social’s very own Rachel Hogan, very well deserved recognition! #LALY25

The Ballymena violence has nothing to do with ‘protecting women’. It is racism, pure and simple | Sarah Creighton Northern Ireland has always seen high levels of violence against women and girls. Blaming migrants is a useful way to distract from that, says political commentator from Northern Ireland Sarah Creight...

Wrote for @theguardian.com about Ballymena and Northern Ireland's long history of violence against women ⬇️

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Children’s Law Centre unequivocally condemns the racist violence that has taken place in recent days in Ballymena and other areas.

Many in our community, especially vulnerable children and young people, will be terrified by these events and deeply concerned by the potential for further harm.

Everyone has a right to live in a society free from fear, intimidation and the threat of violence and we offer our unwavering solidarity to our neighbours and friends from ethnic minority communities.

Our thoughts are with those who have had their lives utterly torn apart in recent days, the impact of which cannot be overstated.

Read our statement on the racist attacks taking place in Ballymena and across other areas this week.

Statement: The Children’s Law Centre unequivocally condemns the racist violence that has taken place in recent days in Ballymena and other areas. (1/4)

NEWs UPDATE Children’s Law Centre Appoints John O’Doherty as New CEO THURSDAY 29TH MAY 2025

The Children’s Law Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of John O’Doherty as its new Chief Executive Officer. John will take up the role in August 2025.

John O’Doherty, who comes with years of extensive experience in leading an NGO and working as a leading human rights defender, will lead CLC in the next phase of its work and development.

“I am delighted to be handing over the reins of CLC to John. I have no doubt that he will successfully lead the organisation in the next stage of its work to vindicate the rights of children.” - Paddy Kelly

The Children's Law Centre is delighted to announce the appointment of John O'Doherty as CEO.

Read more at childrenslawcentre.org.uk/childrens-la...

Take a quick look back at our recent Annual Lecture 2025, with the key note address delivered by Judge Síofra O’Leary.

You can watch the lecture in full at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lid1...

Great to partner with @childlawcentre.bsky.social @voypic.bsky.social @includeyouth.bsky.social NIACRO and @childrensrightsqub.bsky.social to bring awareness to CCE and it's links with #MACR

Staff and volunteers at the Children's Law Centre gathered at the Old Bar Library in the Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast, for a team photo. Included in the photo is Judge Síofra O’Leary, The Right Honourable Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland and CLC Chairperson Alicia Toal.

Thank you to everyone who attended and watched CLC's Annual Lecture 2025. A particular thanks to Judge Síofra O’Leary for delivering the keynote address and to The Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland for chairing.

You can read more and watch it back at buff.ly/luIqZUV

Paddy Kelly speaks at a podium after accepting the Co3 Lifetime Achievement award.

📢 CLC Director Paddy Kelly Presented with Co3 Lifetime Achievement Award 📢

➡️ Prominent child rights advocate
➡️ Founded CLC 27 years ago
➡️ Advanced child rights
➡️ Helped tens of thousands of children

🔗 Read more about Paddy stepping down from CLC at: buff.ly/3KPnf2R

Today we attended the Justice Committee at Stormont to provide evidence on the need to improve the proposals within the Justice Bill to properly comply with children’s rights standards. You can read our initial written submission to the Committes below ⤵️

At today’s Health Committee officials were questioned on plans to improve respite services. We were glad to support the Committee earlier this week to explore the systemic failings in the provision of services which have so often had devastating implications for children and families.

Read more ⤵️

A child holding cut out drawings of a diverse mix of people

27 years of impact. A new chapter begins.

The Children’s Law Centre is looking for a CEO to lead, advocate, and drive change for children’s rights in Northern Ireland.

📆 Apply by 15 April: buff.ly/cNET2oy

#Leadership #CEO #ChildrensRights

Image of someone sitting in a waiting area, ready to be interviewed. Overlaid text reads: 'Children's Law Centre. Work with us. Policy and public affairs officer. Applications close at 5pm on Monday 10th February.'

Do you want to work in our Policy and Public Affairs team, affecting policy and legislative change for children and young people?

The deadline for applications is at 5pm on Monday 10th February.

Find out more at https://buff.ly/40O4RZg

Large text reads: 'BLOG: Do We Need to Raise Expectations in Order to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility?'

The campaign to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility has been going for over 30 years.

Read our latest blog, kindly hosted by Queen's Policy Engagement, on why the time is right to raise our expectations for change, and finally raise the age.

Read at https://buff.ly/4hEB64g

We’re standing with campaigners & unions to spotlight again the Executive’s lack of action on poverty. We back the legal challenge being heard at the High Court that calls out government failure to adopt an anti-poverty strategy.

Today CLC joined CAJ and others outside the High Court in support of their legal challenge against Stormont for failing to adopt an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

Image of someone sitting in a waiting area, ready to be interviewed. Overlaid text reads: 'Children's Law Centre. Work with us. Policy and public affairs officer. Applications close at 5pm on Monday 10th February.'

We are recruiting for a Policy Officer to join our team. The successful candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of the CLC's efforts to promote children’s rights and achieve policy and legislative change.

Find out more at https://buff.ly/40O4RZg

Image of happy young people with overlaid text reading: 'Children's Law Centre. Sign up to our Ezine - Child Rights Matters'

We have ceased all activity on Twitter / X, but we still need to get the message out about the matters affecting children and young people.

We'll be using other platforms and relying more heavily on our ezine to reach people. Our latest edition is out now - mailchi.mp/childrenslaw...

Please share!

Image of happy children with overlaid text reading: 'Children's Law Centre. Work with us. We are recruiting for three positions at CLC: Chief Executive Officer; Policy and Public Affairs Officer; and Solicitor'

We are recruiting for three exciting positions in CLC.

- CEO
- Policy and Public Affairs Officer
- Solicitor

Find out more at childrenslawcentre.org.uk/work-with-us/

Picture of Paddy Kelly smiling at a CLC Annual Lecture. Quote reads: “It has been a huge privilege to lead the Centre for over 25 years and I’m delighted I can step down with the future of the organisation looking so positive.” - Paddy Kelly, Director at CLC

Some big news at CLC. Our Director of 27 years is stepping down, having established the Centre in 1997.

We want to thank Paddy for everything she has achieved with us over the years, leaving the Centre in its best position ever.

Read more at childrenslawcentre.org.uk/paddy-kelly-...