By Professor Jane Williams, Chair of Trustees, Children’s Legal Centre Wales
Trustees’ Week is always a special moment in the charity calendar — a time to celebrate the thousands of people across the UK who give their time, skills, and experience to help organisations thrive. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on what trusteeship really means: not just good governance and oversight, but shared belief in a mission that matters.
For me, that mission has always been clear. At Children’s Legal Centre Wales (CLC Wales), we exist to ensure that every child and young person in Wales understands their rights, can access justice, and is empowered to use the law to protect and shape their future.
It’s a bold vision — and one that feels more urgent than ever. Across Wales, children continue to face barriers to understanding and asserting their rights. The law can seem complex and out of reach, especially when decisions about education, care, or family life are made without clear explanation or meaningful participation. That’s where we come in.
CLC Wales began almost a decade ago as a research and education initiative within Swansea University’s School of Law. Over those years, we built strong foundations: developing rights-based learning resources, supporting professionals who work with children, and influencing law and policy in Wales to reflect children’s lived experiences.
This year marks a new chapter. In March 2025, CLC Wales became an independent organisation, ready to grow into a national charity in its own right. We are now inviting new trustees to help us shape that next stage — and what better time than Trustees’ Week to extend that invitation?
The Power of Trusteeship
Serving as a trustee is both a privilege and a responsibility. It’s about providing strategic guidance, asking good questions, and ensuring the organisation stays true to its values and mission. But it’s also deeply rewarding. You become part of a team that is driving real social change — in our case, by helping to create a fairer, more just Wales for children and young people.
At CLC Wales, our board is a dynamic group of people with diverse expertise — from law, education, and academia to finance, policy, and lived experience. What unites us is a shared belief that the law should work for children, not against them.
We know that our strength as a board lies in diversity — of background, geography, profession, and perspective. That’s why we are particularly keen to welcome new trustees who bring a range of experiences and voices to the table. Whether you are a finance professional, a fundraiser, a community advocate, or someone who has first-hand experience of the challenges young people face, your insight could make a real difference to our work.
A Charity at a Pivotal Moment
Becoming a trustee now means joining us at a transformative moment. Our strategy is built around three interlinked pillars: Policy and Influence, Education and Information, and Advice and Representation. Together, these form a roadmap for change — from shaping law and policy, to empowering children with knowledge, to one day delivering free, direct legal advice and representation for those who need it most.
We are already well-established in our policy and education work, with a national reputation for expertise on children’s rights in Wales. The next step is to expand our reach — building partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and laying the foundations for future legal advice services.
Our trustees play a key role in making that vision a reality. They provide guidance, challenge, and support — ensuring we make sound decisions, manage resources responsibly, and stay ambitious for the children and young people we serve.
Join Us
If you believe in fairness, access to justice, and the power of the law to create positive change, we’d love to hear from you. This is a voluntary role, requiring around one day per month, and full induction and training are provided. Further information can be found here
To apply, please send your CV and a short covering letter outlining your interest and relevant experience to info@childrenslegalcentre.wales by Friday, 9 January 2026.
As Trustees’ Week reminds us, good governance is not just about oversight — it’s about optimism, collaboration, and shared purpose. Together, we can ensure that every child and young person in Wales has the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to stand up for their rights.
If that vision inspires you, this is your moment to help shape it.