Claire Lightowler

I work as an independent researcher and consultant focused on justice, children and young people. I am currently working with Clan ChildLaw to improve legal advice and representation for children in conflict with the law, funded by The Promise Partnership.

I was the Director of the Children and Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) from 2013-2021 and led our work to improve children’s lives through better policy, practice, participation and research. In 2020 I published a major report assessing youth justice in Scotland- Rights Respecting? Scotland’s approach to children in conflict with the law - https://www.cycj.org.uk/news/rights-respecting/. This report is focused on ensuring that Scotland’s approach to children in conflict with the law respects rights and is compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

My career has in different ways always focused on how to achieve change and improvement based on creating new forms of knowledge which brings together people's experiences, research, policy and practice wisdom. I have worked in, and with, social services, academia, third sector, Scottish Government and local government. I also have a PhD which was about policy making and devolution in Scotland and Wales.

I am currently on the board of the Life Changes Trust, established to invest £50 million to improve the lives of young people with care experience, and people with dementia and their carers. I am also a LLB student (graduate entry) at the University of Edinburgh.