The Children's Legal Centre joins the Coram group
Janaki Mahadevan
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Children's Legal Centre has become part of the Coram charity group.
The organisation will now be known as Coram Children’s Legal Centre, adding legal expertise to the portfolio of services Coram offers including education and social care.
Carolyn Hamilton, who was director of the Children’s Legal Centre, is the new director of international programmes and research at Coram Children's Legal Centre. No job losses are expected as a result of the change.
Dr Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram, said: "We have been concerned for some time over the emerging needs and trends regarding children’s rights, with increasing numbers of children who are subjected to court proceedings and the increase in trafficked and migrant children.
"We will draw on Coram’s pioneering work in concurrent planning and family assessment and the Children’s Legal Centre’s expertise in educational, family and children’s legal advice to advance the cause of children, young people and families in care proceedings.
"We are stronger together than apart, particularly during this time of economic uncertainty and burgeoning contract culture, and look forward to extending our impact from joint learning and strengths."
Coram provides support to more than 15,000 children, young people and families every year, and reaches a further 800,000 school children through educational programmes. The Children’s Legal Centre provides free legal advice and representation to children, young people, carers and professionals as well as consultancy on children’s rights.
Hamilton said: "We’re very pleased to be amalgamating with Coram and our combined strengths, knowledge and know-how will maximise our commitment to improving the lives of children and young people.
"Coram’s long history of providing practical support to large numbers of children coupled with the Children’s Legal Centre’s rights-based approach makes us both a stronger force in the UK and will help to extend our international reach - by working together we can really make a difference now and in the future."
Coram’s head office in Bloomsbury will now host some of the Children’s Legal Centre’s London team, with the Child Law Advice Line's base remaining in Essex.
