Four leading advice charities have today warned of a legal advice ‘crisis’ facing more than a million children and young people, as a report reveals they are not getting the legal advice they need.
The JustRights campaign, which brings together the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, the Howard League for Penal Reform, the Law Centres Federation and Youth Access, has said that children are being denied their rights to liberty, security, shelter and education.
Youth Access has published a report which sets out evidence of what it calls the ‘scandalous failure to meet the advice needs’ of young people on social welfare issues.
The report shows that each year more than one million young people with complex social welfare problems such as debt, homelessness, education and employment get no advice at all.
It says hundreds of thousands try but fail to obtain advice because there is no service available to help them, and only one in seven of those who manage to get legal advice do so from a recognised legal professional.
JustRights is calling on the government to invest in age-appropriate legal advice services and develop a cross-departmental strategy to ensure ready access to high-quality independent advice and representation.
The campaign estimates that the failure to obtain legal advice by vulnerable young people costs the taxpayer at least £1bn a year, as many end up homeless, destitute or wrongly imprisoned.
Katy Swaine, legal director of the Children’s Rights Alliance for England, said: ‘This is a prime example of age discrimination in the UK. We know that it is children and young people in the most vulnerable situations, including those in custody and those living in the care system, for whom it is often hardest to access independent expert advice’
Julie Bishop, director of the Law Centres Federation, said: ‘Every day law centres see young people whose lives are hanging in the balance. Often they are facing homelessness or are being denied an education. The legal advice we give them has a huge impact, helping them to get their lives back on track. All young people should get that chance.’
Barbara Rayment, director of Youth Access, said: ‘Children and young people are in a uniquely dangerous situation – they are the least likely age group to get good legal advice and yet they often need it the most. Today, children and young people in the UK are living on the streets and experiencing serious financial problems because there is no one to defend their rights.’
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