A Comissioner for Children and Young People

The start of a new month brings a new job for Nigel Williams, Northern Ireland’s first Commissioner for Children and Young People – a position with the widest range of powers of any Commissioner for Children in the world.

Talking of his post he said “I am honoured to be the first holder of this important office. My priorities are to listen to children and young people’s concerns and needs and draw up a plan of action ”.

Mr Williams, previously Chief Executive of Childnet International, was selected for the post in June 2003 following an innovative public appointment process which involved young people in the selection. A short biography can be found at the end of this article.

The Commissioner’s job will include reviewing policy, legislation and services for children and young people, assisting them bring complaints, conducting investigations, taking or assisting with legal proceedings, raising awareness about children’s rights and promoting best practice.

Mr Williams will be based at temporary offices in Linenhall Street, Belfast until March 2004. He explained his immediate concerns, “My first few months...will be focused on building an effective staff team and establishing the office so that the Commissioner can really make a difference for all the children and young people in Northern Ireland ”. His staff will include experts in children’s legal rights, research, communication, participation and education.

Rt Hon John Spellar MP, Minister with responsibility for children’s and young people’s issues, congratulated Mr Williams on his new position saying, “We can take pride in the fact that Northern Ireland can now be held up as a model for best practice and a world-leader in this important area. I wish Mr Williams well in his new position and look forward to a new era for children and young people in Northern Ireland .”

Contact the new Commissioner for Children and Young People by phoning 028 9031 1616.

Biography – Nigel Williams

Born in Devon, Nigel lived in Limavady until the age of 12, when he then moved with his family to Portadown. He attended Portadown College and finished his formal education with a degree in Geography from Cambridge University.

In 1976 Nigel joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service as a graduate trainee, and had a number of jobs in the former Department of Economic Development, including being head of the Industrial Sites Branch. In 1984 Nigel set up his own business in computer training, and in 1988 was recruited by the charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) to be Head of Public Policy in Westminster.

In 1995 Nigel left CARE to found a new charity, Childnet International, focused on promoting the rights and best interests of children on the internet.Nigel was a Board member of the Internet Watch Foundation, and of the Internet Content Rating Association and was appointed by the Home Secretary in 2001 to the Task Force on Child Protection on the Internet.

He was a Liberal Democrat councillor in the London Borough of Southwark from 1994-1998 and will be giving up his membership of the party on taking up the post of Commissioner.

Nigel has been a school governor, chair of a Parents Teachers Association, and clerk to a school governing body. He was secretary of the local Tenants and Residents Association where he lived, and helped establish a youth club on the local housing estate. He was also vice chair of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints Church in Peckham.

While living in Northern Ireland Nigel wrote a number of articles in his spare time for the Belfast Telegraph, and his series on places to visit throughout Northern Ireland, “Off the Beaten Track” won an award in 1982. While at CARE he authored a book on the impact of pornography “False Images”, and at Childnet has had a number of articles published including one on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and media use. He was also technical consultant to the Usborne Children’s book “101 things to do on the Internet”.

Nigel enjoys cycling, watching sport (especially rugby), reading biography and travel.He is married to Heather, who comes from Newtownhamilton, is a graduate of Stranmillis/QUB and now works as an advocate for children with learning difficulties. They have four children aged 17-23.