Glasgow Clinic Helps Families Access Advice

27th July 2026

Visiting the Scottish Child Law Centre’s Children’s Rights Clinic in Govanhill

The Scottish Child Law Centre recently launched a community-based children’s rights clinic in Govanhill, offering free, in-person legal advice to local families. Hosted at MILK Café, the clinic currently supports 4–5 families each week on a range of issues, including domestic abuse, housing, additional support needs in education, criminal justice, and welfare benefits.

Improving Access to Free Legal Advice for Families

For over 30 years, the Scottish Child Law Centre has championed children’s rights through its national advice line, legal support, and training. This Govanhill clinic builds on that legacy by embedding legal services directly within the community, making support more accessible, approachable, and less intimidating for families who need it most.

The clinic offers more than just legal advice. Families can also receive:

• Help with completing documents
• Support accessing legal aid
• Referrals to other services
• Interpretation and translation services

This inclusive approach ensures that barriers such as language or system complexity do not prevent families from accessing their rights.

Strong Demand for Community-Based Legal Support in Glasgow

Early engagement with the clinic has shown strong local demand for the service and highlights the importance of accessible legal advice in diverse communities like Govanhill. The Centre is now focused on raising awareness locally, with ambitions to expand this community clinic model to other areas across Scotland.

Children’s Voices at the Launch Event: “Our Rights”

Colleagues from Glasgow’s Child Poverty Programme attended the clinic’s launch event, where they heard about the project’s vision and took part in creative discussions on children’s rights. Most importantly, they heard directly from local children about what rights mean to them.

School pupils and Head Teachers presented creative campaign boards focused on:

• Article 28: The Right to Education
• Article 24: The Right to a Healthy Life

Children exploring the right to education shared the story of Malala Yousafzai, highlighting her global fight for equal access to education for girls.

“I didn’t know what rights were. I thought they were boring, but when I found out what they actually were, I was inspired by them! But I was most inspired by Article 28, the right to an education!”
– School participant

Those presenting on the right to a healthy life emphasised the importance of clean water, nutritious food, and access to quality healthcare.

“Poverty is a key driver of health inequalities… Access to free legal advice helps ensure these families are able to realise their right to health.”
– Sarah Forster, Director, Scottish Child Law Centre

Why Children’s Rights Clinics Matter

The event reinforced how poverty, housing, income, ethnicity, and care experience can all impact children’s health and wellbeing. For many families, accessing basic rights such as safety, food, and healthcare remains a daily challenge.

Community-based legal services like this clinic play a vital role in helping families:

• Understand their rights
• Challenge unfair decisions
• Access essential support

Reflections from the Event

Geraldine Norval (GCC) shared her reflections:

“The school children showed remarkable confidence, enthusiasm, and genuine interest in the subjects they presented on. Their ability to speak so passionately about their rights was both refreshing and motivating.

What stayed with me most was the clear message that young people are not just willing participants – they are eager contributors. When given the opportunity, they are ready to play an active role in conversations about their rights.”

The event left attendees feeling optimistic about the clinic’s future impact and the continued involvement of young people in shaping rights-based work.

Visit the Govanhill Children’s Rights Clinic

Helping Families Access Justice in Glasgow

If you work with families in Glasgow, help spread the word about this vital service. Increasing awareness of free legal advice for children and families is key to ensuring that rights are understood, respected, and realised.