Newcastle
The Newcastle trustees do not employ staff directly nor do they provide legal advice and assistance to the children in Kenya themselves. Their role is essentially to provide material and financial resources, including advice and training, to the Justice for Children Project in Kenya who deliver the on-the-ground service to client children and their families.
What happens in Newcastle?
- The trustees manage the work of Justice for Children by liaising closely with colleagues in the Rift Valley Law Society and the Justice for Children office in Kenya by regular formal reporting and financial reports from Justice for Children in Kenya
- Trustee/Director meetings are held monthly in Newcastle but are not restricted to members and an increasing number of ‘supporters' attend these meetings and are actively involved in the work of Justice for Children
- In addition to the trustee meetings, monthly telephone conferences are held with members of the Juvenile Justice subcommittee of the Rift Valley Law Society in Nakuru to consider the monthly financial and management reports. There is also frequent telephone contacts with members and staff in Kenya.
- Trustees provide training for Kenyan lawyers both in Kenya and during their visits to Newcastle and assist Justice for Children with their own training and public awareness initiatives.
- Trustees arrange visits to Kenya to assist with and support the development of Justice for Children. Membership of these delegations has been broadly based and includes solicitors, barristers and judges. Senior officers from Newcastle City Council Social Services as well as a senior officer from Northumbria police have visited and helped with training and in 2009 a law student had a 6 week work placement at Justice for Children in Nakuru. All trustees and other supporters who go to Kenya from the UK pay their own travel costs.
- Trustees arrange visits to Newcastle by members of the Rift Valley Law Society including Justice for Children staff which involves work placements and training in children's law related matters to better equip them to deal with their casework in Kenya.
- Trustees raise funds to ensure that the Justice for Children team in Kenya is able to provide this advice and assistance to children and their families in Kenya.
- Trustees try to encourage the Newcastle Law Society, law firms, barrister chambers and other individuals and organisations to support Justice for Children both materially and financially.
- Trustees organise a number of sponsored fundraising events - eg quiz nights, walks, a charity ball, supermarket bagpacking.
- Trustees liaise with other charities and organisations providing legal support in Kenya and also liaise closely with other Law Societies wishing to develop similar links with Law Societies in Kenya
- Trustees publicise the work of Justice for Children in lectures talks and articles.
All photos of visits to Nakuru and joint committee meetings are available in full size in the photo album click here
Newcastle delegation to Nakuru - meeting with judges and lawyers