Kids Law
This is a podcast about children and the laws that affect them as they grow up. Alma-Constance, our host, decided to start the podcast in 2021, when she turned 10 years old. Living in England, UK, she discovered that at 10 years old she would have reached the age of criminal responsibility. This is one of the youngest ages of criminalising children in the developed world. That was a pretty shocking discovery for her especially as she realised that she and her peers knew nothing about what this meant in practice and how it can affected children and their families. With the help of Lucinda Acland, a lawyer, and supported by Next 100 Years, they set out to ask some questions of leading experts to help children make sense of it all. There are a lot of laws that affect #children as they grow up and they are confusing and complicated and can affect all aspects of their day-to-day life from #education to online protections or at home, if families break up. It is difficult to keep track and understand the laws and how they impact a child's life. Alma-Constance is determined to help #TeachKidsLaw at a much younger age to help them grow up into adults confident with their legal knowledge. Understanding how the law works and being able to understand complex concepts of #justice and #ruleoflaw will help anyone as they try to navigate their lives. You can email us: kidslaw@spark21.org or reach us on social media channels and our www.kidslaw.info website.
Kids Law
What happens to children when parents split up?
In our fifth episode, Alma-Constance and Lucinda take a look at the difficult situation of when parents split up. Alma-Constance talks to Charlotte Bradley, who is a partner and Head of the Family Law department in a firm of solicitors called Kingsley Napley. Charlotte is also a mediator and has helped many families sort out their problems and campaigned for the voices of children to be heard when family relationships break down. She also has personal experience of a divorce herself and explains how children can be helped through the legal process.
Alma -Constance asks her why lawyers get involved and whether families always have to go to court. She asks how the opinions of children are heard and who can help children if they need to make decisions about living or seeing their parents.
Charlotte tells us that children can often feel caught in the middle of the arguments between their parents. She says that it is important if the child can't tell their parents how they feel that the child finds an adult they trust, for example a teacher, to speak to. Children should ask if they can speak to a therapist or a counsellor as many schools provide counselling for children precisely to support them through such difficult times.
There are also organisations that can help:
Childline - a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. You can speak to a counsellor every day from 7.30am - 3:30am on weekdays and 9am - 3.30am on weekends. Call free on 0800 1111, or use their 121 chat service
NSPCC - helpline Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and 9am – 6pm at the weekend. Call 0808 800 5000
Alma-Constance and Lucinda would love to hear from you!
Tell us what you think of our episode, and if you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone you'd like us to interview, please contact us through the website, kidslaw.info or on social media on Twitter @KidsLawInfo, Facebook and Instagram @KidsLawInfo
You can also email us: kidslaw@spark21.org
Please subscribe, rate, and share with your friends.
See you in the next episode!
If you've got any questions, ideas about a topic or someone to interview, get in touch, we'd love to hear from you!! You can email us at kidslaw@spark21.org, contact us through the website: www.kidslaw.info or through social media: Facebook, X and Instagram @KidsLawInfo
Please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast with your friends.
See you soon in the next episode!
