UNCRC is the The United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child. It is a legally binding agreement signed by 196 countries (as of 2022), outlining the fundamental rights of children.

There are 54 Articles (rights) that adults and government must ensure they protect.

Under the UNCRC, a child means every human being below the age of 18. A child has all the rights in the UNCRC until they are 18 years old.

Children’s version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child | UNICEF

Child Maintenance is money that the parent you don’t live with the most gives to the parent you do live with more of the time. It helps pay for things like food, clothes, and other everyday needs to make sure you have what you need to grow and be happy.

Child maintenance is money towards all the things you need every day to live. This could be things like…

• Food

• Clothes and Shoes

• School things

• Bills and housing

• Fun activities

Child maintenance helps make sure you have everything you need to live, learn, and enjoy life.

Every child has the right to a good enough standard of living to live a full and happy life (UNCRC Article 27). It is both parents' responsibility, where possible, to provide this to you (UNCRC Article 18).

Your best interests should always be the top priority (UNCRC Article 3). Your parents will either talk to each other about how much child maintenance will be paid, or they will use the government's Child Maintenance Service, who will work out the amount for them.

In Scotland, if you're over 12 years old, you can arrange child maintenance yourself. However, it's important to ensure that this money is still used to cover your everyday living costs.

There are people out there to help families with Child Maintenance:

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is a government service in the UK that helps parents manage financial support when they don't live together. It ensures that children receive the money they need to cover their everyday living costs, such as food, clothing, and school supplies. The CMS can help with calculating amounts, collecting payments, and resolving disagreements.

Parents can contact One Families Scotland national helpline (opens in a new tab) or, if in England, Wales or Ireland, your local Citizens Advice Bureau.