Care Matters: The Green Paper discussion event hosted by Lawyers for Young People and Matrix Chambers
Concerns over the funding of legal services for vulnerable youngsters, particularly those in or leaving care, have been raised at a top-level seminar, organised by Lawyers for Young People.
Set up in 2006, Lawyers for Young People is the first not-for-profit pilot scheme, funded by the Legal Services Commission in a commercial law firm, offering a specialist legal service to young people in Essex.
Run by solicitors Liz Frank and Simone Surgenor, the organisation – based at Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP in Colchester – brought together leading figures from CAFCASS, the Legal Services Commission, the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Department for Skills and Education, the legal profession and a number of children’s charities among others, for a round-table debate, chaired by David Wolfe of Matrix, on the Care Matters Green Paper.
One of the main topics debated, said Liz Frank, was whether sufficient funding is being made available to support young people who may need legal support.
She explained: “What is essential is that vulnerable young people, particularly those in care, leaving care or needing services, are able to access good quality legal advice at the earliest possible opportunity in an attempt to enable disputes to be resolved before positions become entrenched.
“At present, young people in care not only face considerable barriers in accessing the law, but there are few lawyers undertaking the work. This is an issue for the profession and will only change if the work is adequately funded.”
Lawyers for Young People is hoping for continued funding, having seen a good uptake of its services, particularly through its outreach work at youth groups in Essex.
Simone Surgenor added: “We are delighted that our event generated so much interest and debate at a high level, a reflection on some of the complexities which children going through the care system face.”
Other core themes discussed at the event, held at Matrix Chambers in London on January 16th, included the role of the Independent Reviewing Officer, advocacy, educational needs, placements and leaving care, and the mechanisms to challenge.
Comments from delegates can be heard on the Lawyers for Young People podcast, at http://www.lfyp.org.uk/
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Photo shows (L-R) – Legal Secretary Deborah Mauger and Solicitors Liz Frank and Simone Surgenor from Lawyers for Young People.