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KIND in the UK

KIND (Kids in Need of Defense) works in the UK to strengthen the rights and protection of children and young people in need of immigration support.

We work with law firms and corporate legal partners to provide free, independent legal advice and representation to those who need it most. We work to ensure that children and young people’s rights are protected so they can move, settle securely and thrive in the UK.

KIND works with five expert not-for-profit organisations to protect children across the UK - Central England Law Centre, Coram Children’s Legal Centre, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit, JustRight Scotland, and the Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit at Islington Law Centre.

KIND’s partners in the UK currently work on two types of cases only for children and young people aged up to 25 (see below for more detail on services offered):

1. Applications for British citizenship
2. Applications for leave to remain in the UK

Together, we work on around 500 cases per year and have consistently achieved a 98% success rate in cases with an outcome. In the last year, almost 1,000 lawyers from law firms and corporate legal partners worked on KIND cases across the UK.

Partner with us

Working on KIND cases is a rewarding experience and a unique pro bono opportunity for law firms.

All training on immigration cases is provided by our experts, and all our lawyers received top quality supervision throughout.

See below for more detail.

Need help?

KIND partner organisations in the UK provide free legal advice and representation to undocumented children, young people and families.

They take on cases of applications for UK citizenship and Applications for leave to remain in the UK.

See below for more detail.

Get Help

KIND’s partners provide free legal advice and representation to children and young people. Here’s how to access their services:

1. Central England Law Centre (CELC)

Cases accepted:
1. Applications for British citizenship for children
2. Applications for leave to remain in the UK for children

Area covered:
Midlands, South and Mid Wales, and London only.

How to access their service:
More information and referral form here (also for Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit at Islington Law Centre)

2. Coram Children’s Legal Centre (CCLC)

Cases accepted:
1.  Applications for British citizenship for children and young people up to the age of 25

Area covered:
London, the South, West and East of England (as well as other areas of the UK if they have helped you or your family before)

How to access their service:
Please fill out their referral form here

More information:
Children's Pro Bono Service - Coram Children's Legal Centre

3. Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)

Cases accepted:
1.  Applications for British citizenship for children

Area covered:
North of England only

How to access their service:
More information and Children and Young People’s referral form here

4. Just Right Scotland (JRS)

Cases accepted:
1.  Applications for British citizenship for children
2. Applications for leave to remain in the UK for children

Area covered:
Scotland only

How to access their service:
More information and referral form here

5. Migrant and Refugee Children’s Legal Unit at Islington Law Centre

Cases accepted:
1. Applications for British citizenship for children
2. Applications for leave to remain in the UK fo rchildren

Area covered:
London only

How to access their service:
More information and referral form here (also for Central England Law Centre):

 

All services provided by KIND’s partners in the UK are:

Free: The legal advice and representation provided is completely free. Our partners work with lawyers and law firms to provide the best quality legal advice and representation for free to those who need it. They are unable to cover Home Office fees or additional costs such as medical reports, although they may be able to refer you to sources of help with these costs.

Confidential: Our partners will never share your information with the Home Office or anyone else unless you have given your permission or it is required by law

About KIND

KIND is a global NGO which protects the rights and wellbeing of unaccompanied, separated, and other vulnerable groups of children and young people through the provision of legal and psychosocial assistance, advocacy, capacity building, and systems strengthening work.

There is no other organisation like KIND working across the United States Central America, Europe, and the UK, harnessing its civil society and pro bono legal partnerships, to protect children on the move. In Europe, KIND is headquartered in Belgium and works across nine countries (Belgium, Czechia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and the UK), employing staff and consultants, and working in partnership with 14 expert NGOs and 51 law firms and corporate pro bono partners to deliver on our mission.

Since 2016, KIND and a network of partner organisations across Europe and the UK have assisted more than 9,000 children with a range of legal issues that impact their status and the fulfilment of their rights.

Our partners across Europe and the UK:

1. Association for Integration and Migration(Czechia)
2. Child Helpline International
3. Central England Law Centre (U.K)
4. Coram Children’s Legal Centre (U.K)
5. E-Liberare (Romania)
6. European Lawyers in Lesvos (Greece)
7. Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (U.K)
8. Human Rights League (Slovakia)
9. Immigrant Council of Ireland (Ireland)
10. Irish Refugee Council (Ireland)
11. Islington Law Centre (U.K)
12. Italian Refugee Council (Italy)
13. Just Right Scotland (U.K)
14. Rule of Law Institute Foundation (Poland)

Working in partnership with expert organisations is a pillar of KIND’s global approach. By operating as a global network of organisations working locally we are able to become more than the sum of our parts.

KIND and our partners have provided legal information, advice and assistance with:

- International protection pathways
- Family reunification
- Residence permits
- Citizenship
- Leave to remain
- Age assessments
- Guardianship
- Transition to adulthood
- Protection for child victims of trafficking
- Asylum
- Regularisation

For more information - see https://supportkind.org/what-we- do/international/european-initiative/

Get in touch – email infoeurope@supportkind.org

Changing lives though pro bono representation - partner with KIND in the UK

KIND provides free legal advice and representation to children and young people via our partnerships with lawyers and law firms across the country.

We offer a unique pro bono opportunity, with no immigration experience needed – all training and supervision is provided by our expert immigration lawyers based within our partners organisations.

Taking on KIND cases means making a commitment to children and young people who would not otherwise be able to access legal representation. By partnering with KIND, by volunteering your time and expertise, you can help change the course of a child’s life forever.

Contact details – probono@supportkind.org

For lawyers

- Deliver end-to-end casework
- Gain experience of case management and building client relationships
- No immigration experience required – our experienced immigration lawyers provide full training and supervision
- Support a diverse range of clients – families of over 40 nationalities and young people up to 25

For law firms

- A unique pro bono opportunity
- Securing life-changing impacts for children, young people and families through a successful partnership
- Significant development opportunities for lawyers taking part
- We ask our partner firms to make a financial contribution to cover the cost of training and supervision.