Innovative animation project shares children and young people’s experiences of the legal system
Posted 14.09.23 by Alice Hinds
Made with the input of young people, a powerful new animation project explores the views of children with experience of the legal system, sharing their thoughts on lawyers and the vital work required to uphold children’s rights.
Created by Clan Childlaw, the Alright? Animation project built on a scoping study about the legal needs of children and young people in conflict with the law, providing attendees to the participation groups Youth Just Us (click here for more) and Inside Out (click here for more) with the opportunity to explore the issues more fully.
Produced alongside arts organisation Braw Talent, the short cartoon draws inspiration from real-life experiences, and saw children and young people write the script, explore themes, craft characters, review storyboards and even perform their own voiceovers for a moving and impactful final piece.
“Alright?" is an important call to action from young people about what they want from their lawyers,” explained Claire Lightowler from Clan Childlaw, Scotland’s law centre for children and young people. “It highlights a significant gap between what young people want and what they often experience.
“Children and young people need better support to identify when a lawyer may be able to help uphold their rights, and where this is the case, they need easier access to highly skilled lawyers. Achieving this requires systemic and cultural change, and greater resourcing.”
Not only did the Alright? project provide a creative output for the participating children and young people, it also shares an important message about the need for lawyers who care about the young people they support, and highlights that young people want lawyers who are able to communicate and connect.
Ruth Kerracher of Youth Justice Voices (click here for more) added: “The Rights In Justice project has been a key feature of Youth Justice Voices work. Young people involved in the project have been able to articulate what they need and want from lawyers.
“‘Alright?’ is a powerful output, it was co-produced with young people and really brings to life the importance of relationships, time and what lawyers can do to uphold children’s rights. We hope that greater training is provided to ensure that support is age appropriate and children and young people understand the decisions or processes which impact on their lives.”
Clan Childlaw was established 15 years ago to give children and young people facing adversity in Scotland their own lawyers, protecting and strengthening their rights, giving them a voice in decision-making that impacts their futures, and to improving their lives.
For more information, click here to visit the Clan Childlaw website: www.clanchildlaw.org/alrightanimation
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