Nottingham is making good progress in its ambition to become a UNICEF UK accredited Child Friendly City.
An update on Child Friendly Nottingham (CFN) was taken to Executive Board on 17 September for a progress report.
The council is working with partners across the city to make Nottingham child friendly.
CFN Is part of a UNICEF worldwide programme, Child Friendly Cities and Communities. UNICEF UK carries out six monthly reviews of cities to seek to recognise them as child friendly. A child friendly city is one which recognises children’s rights and puts children’s rights at the centre of its planning and service.
Nottingham has adopted an action plan to take the city forward. Cardiff is presently the only city in the UK recognised as child friendly. At the Executive Board meeting the councillors were informed that UNICEF have judged that Nottingham is making Good Progress on its action plan.
Cllr Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education at the council, said: “In a challenging environment, I am delighted to be able to report that the council’s work towards Nottingham becoming a child friendly city has been recognised in this way”
“Hearing the views of children is one of the most important ways that we can plan for the future. As part of this initiative, we have asked the council to consider how children’s rights can be at the centre of our work. Councillors are planning to be more responsive and involve children and you people more in their day-to-day activities.”
Child friendly Nottingham launched with children of all ages in late 2023 and since has seen children involved in activities run by and for children and young people who have let councillors and public agencies know what they think.
Highlights so far include Primary Parliaments considering heathy issues and discussing online safety. Nottingham College students have taken part in hustings and consultation on the Nottingham Economic growth strategy, produced a rights of the month campaign and joined with ChalleNge on the cultural rucksack. There is much more to follow as this is only a start of an exciting journey for Nottingham.
More information on Child Friendly Nottingham here.