
British Citizenship Law & Children: A day course (in person only, Hammersmith, London)
PRCBC is delivering this course for its volunteer solicitors/barristers but is opening this course to a very small number of practising solicitors and barristers committed to British Nationality law and children’s rights.
Date: Saturday 10 December 2022, 10:00am-4:00pm
Coffee and registration: 9:45am
Refreshments and light lunch will be available
How much is the course?
Attendees are asked to make a donation towards PRCBC’s children’s hardship funds at a point of booking with Eventrbrite.
How to book?
Bookings for this course must be done via Eventbrite (private link, please e-mail admin@prcbc.net if you are committed in booking and attending)
Please note
i)Participants must be practising solicitors or barristers working at an organisation/in chambers
ii) Only one booking per organisation/chambers
iii) Please only book if you can attend for the entire course in person (Hammersmith, London)
Topics covered (Basic knowledge of law, policy and practice in this area will be assumed):
i) Relevant background of British Nationality Act 1981
ii) British citizenship by birth and descent
iii) Registration by entitlement
iv) Registration by discretion
v) Good character requirement
vi) Application process (including fee waiver and exemption), evidence and remedy
How will the course be delivered?
It will be delivered in person only at PRCBC’s office, Kings House, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP.
Attendees will be sent course notes, reference material and case studies to consider before course delivery date.
Who will deliver this course?
Solange is PRCBC’s senior solicitor and litigator. Solange is 16 years PQE and has over 20 years experience in nationality and immigration law.
Steve is PRCBC volunteer legal researcher. He is a non-practising barrister. He works for Amnesty International UK as the Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director. Steve’s knowledge and experience includes six years as legal officer of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).
3/10/2022
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Seminar for caseworkers advising children with British citizenship registration applications
Children’s Citizenship Fee: Best interests, fee waiver and exemption
Date: Friday 22 July 2022
Time: 9:45 am -12:45pm
Venue: In person attendance only, PRCBC office, Hammersmith, London
Who is this Seminar for?
Caseworkers/Solicitors advising and assisting children with British citizenship applications to apply for a fee waiver.
What will this Seminar provide?
An understanding of law, policy and practice relating to children’s citizenship fee waiver and exemption including:
i) procedure and practice on making online and postal fee waiver application; and
ii) documentary and other evidence.
What is the aim of this Seminar?
1) Improved understanding of children’s best interests and citizenship fee waivers.
2) Improved prospects of securing fee waivers.
3) Improved prospects of challenges to refusals of a fee waiver.
Method of delivery
Attendees are expected to attend this seminar in person only.
This seminar will not be recorded.
Seminar delivered by
Solange Valdez-Symonds (Solicitor), PRCBC CEO and solicitor and Steve Valdez-Symonds, PRCBC volunteer legal researcher
Booking
You will need to register via Eventbrite to attend this seminar at this link:
Other information
Seminar notes and precedents will be provided.
Some reference material will be provided before the session. You will need to bring a laptop to access this reference material during the session.
Please only book to attend this workshop if
i) You work as a caseworker/solicitor for a firm or organisation; and
ii) You are able to commit to attend the session in person from 9:45am-12:45 pm (registration and coffee from 9:45am-10am); and
(ii) If you book and are subsequently unable to attend your firm/organisation will make a donation of £50 towards our children’s hardship funds.
We look forward to seeing you at our workshop.
PRCBC
7/7/2022
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Workshop: Introduction to British Citizenship Law, Policy and Practice for Paralegals and recently qualified solicitors on Friday 1 July, 10-1:30pm.
Who is this workshop for?
For Paralegals and recently qualified solicitors working for charity organisations, legal aid and private firms.
What will this workshop provide?
An understanding of law, policy and practice of British Nationality law (including application process and procedure).
What is the aim of this workshop?
To understand who may be a British citizen by birth and who has a right to register by entitlement or discretion.
To raise awareness of children’s citizenship rights.
Workshop delivered by
Solange Valdez-Symonds (Solicitor) and other guest speaker(s)
Method of delivery
Attendees are expected to attend this workshop in person only. PRCBC office address:
Kings House, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP.
The workshop will not be recorded.
Booking
You will need to register via Eventbrite at this link:
Other information
Workshop notes will be provided nearer the date.
You will need to bring a laptop to access legal reference material during the session.
28 May 2022
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Seminar: Let’s talk Children’s British Citizenship Rights

Who is this seminar for? For support, policy and key workers
What will this seminar provide? A framework on British citizenship rights, enabling participants to have a general understanding of who may be a British citizen by birth and who has a right to register by entitlement or discretion.
What is the aim of this seminar? To enable better understanding of citizenship rights.
Seminar delivered by : Solange Valdez-Symonds (Solicitor).
Method of delivery: This seminar will be delivered via Zoom. All attendees are expected to have their video on during the session and will be expected to actively participate in casestudies discussions.
Seminar notes, casestudies and Zoom link will be provided nearer the date.
Booking: You will need to register via Eventbrite to attend this seminar.
Please only book if:
i) you work for an organisation that works with children or young adults ; and
ii) you are able to commit to attend this three-hour session.
Our sessions are very popular and often fully booked within hours.
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at our seminar.
4/2/2022
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Children’s British Citizenship Rights Course for Legal Practitioners (comprising of four modules)

How to book: Bookings for this four-module course must be done via Eventbrite at this link:
** Please note: Participants are expected to book and attend all four modules. Please therefore check your availability before making your bookings. Please do not book if you are unable to attend the entire four-module course.**
** Only one booking permitted per organisation/firm**
Module 1: Saturday 25 September 2021, 10:30am-12:30pm
Intention of Parliament when introducing the British Nationality Act 1981 in relation to children Date:
This module will cover the background to the British Nationality Act 1981 concerning British citizenship, particularly as this applies to the rights of children to that citizenship.
Module 2: Saturday 16 October 2021, 10:30am-1:00pm
General children citizenship matters and registration by entitlement: Application process, evidence and remedy.
This module will cover British nationality law and policy concerning the registration of children as British citizens by entitlement, including discussion of the Home Office fee for applications. Basic knowledge of law, policy and practice in this area will be assumed.
Module 3: Saturday 20 November 2021,10:30am-1:00pm
General children citizenship matters and registration by discretion: Application process, evidence and remedy.
This module will cover British nationality law and policy concerning the registration of children as British citizens at the discretion of SSHD under section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981. It will particularly focus on children in care and children brought to the UK at a young age. Basic knowledge of law, policy and practice in this area will be assumed.
Module 4: Saturday 11 December 2021, 10:30am-1:00pm
Good character requirement in children’s citizenship claims: Application process, evidence and remedy.
This module will cover British nationality law and policy concerning the application of the good character statutory requirement for children and young adults to be registered as British citizens (including children and young persons in care).
Who will deliver this course?
The course will be delivered by Solange Valdez-Symonds and Steve Valdez-Symonds.
Solange is a solicitor and CEO of the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC). She was named 2017 Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year in the Children’s Rights category. Solange is 14 years PQE and has over 19 years experience in nationality and immigration law.
Steve is a volunteer legal researcher for the Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens (PRCBC). He works for Amnesty International UK as the Refugee and Migrant Rights Programme Director. Steve’s knowledge and experience includes six years as legal officer of the Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA).
How much is the course?
Attendance is free but attendees are encouraged to make a donation towards our children’s hardship fund at this link:
https://www.kindlink.com/charity/prcbc
How will the course be delivered?
It will be delivered via Zoom and a small number will be able to book and attend in person at PRCBC’s office, Kings House, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP.
Attendees will be sent further information a week before each module.
Training course pack will be provided.