UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community – Wokingham Council Bidding To Be Recognised
Wokingham Borough Council are partnering with the UK committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) in a bid to be recognised as a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community.
Joining eight other areas in the UK, the project launched on 1 February and will see the council improve the way it works with and for children, to put their rights front and centre. The programme is part of a global UNICEF initiative that reaches almost 30 million children in over 40 countries.
Achieving recognition as a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community takes between three and five years to complete, during which time the council will work with children and young people and partner organisations to establish the current situation and then develop an improvement plan.
The plan will focus on priorities, known as badges, that are agreed by children and young people, the council, and the wider community. Examples of the badges include safe and secure, equal and included, healthy, participating and child friendly services.
UNICEF UK
UNICEF UK says the programme aims to change the way local government works with and for children, so children have a say in decisions that affect them, experience services that are designed with and for them, know what services are available to them, understand how to access and navigate often complex local systems, and feel safe and prioritised within their communities.
Councillor Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services said: “I am honoured and humbled that we have been successful in our bid to become a candidate UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community.
“UNICEF UK said our passion for giving the borough’s children and young people the best possible opportunities was the main reason for our acceptance. We have long been known as a great place for young families, so being able to further that commitment through our partnership with UNICEF UK will make our borough an even better place to live for our children and young people.”
Naomi Danquah, Director of Child Friendly Cities and Communities at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), said: “We are delighted to welcome Wokingham to the UNICEF UK Child Friendly Cities and Communities programme.”
“Determination and enthusiasm absolutely shone through Wokingham’s application to join the programme and work towards recognition as a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community. We were particularly impressed by the council’s vision of Wokingham as a place where children and young people feel as listened to and respected as the borough’s adult residents.
“This partnership presents a unique opportunity to do just that – using children’s rights to transform how children and young people experience local services in Wokingham – and we’re excited to get this important work underway.”
Further Information
To find out more about the UNICEF UK Child Friendly Cities and Communities programme, please visit their website and if you would like to find out ways you can be involved, email youthvoice@wokingham.gov.uk.
