UNICEF UK’s Child Friendly Cities programme works with councils to put children’s rights into practice.
The programme seeks to make sure children have the chance to have a meaningful say in, and benefit from, the decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives. UNICEF UK is working to support cities in the UK to benefit children, whether they are living in care, using a children's centre or visiting their local library.
We’re thrilled to have started our journey to becoming a UNICEF UK-recognised Child Friendly City.
Where we are now
Building on the success of ‘2022 Our Year’, Manchester joined UNICEF UK’s Child Friendly Cities programme in November 2022. We are now in the ‘Discovery’ phase where the council, community, and children and young people come together to agree on our priority areas - or 'badges'.
UNICEF will deliver expert training in children’s rights to local politicians, council staff, partners (police, health services, commissioned services, voluntary organisations) and children and young people.
A ‘Discovery Day' will include children and young people and understand where things are going well for children and where things need to change.
Based on this training and analysis, the council will choose six badges and, with support from UNICEF UK, draft an action plan during the Development Phase, setting out how we will work towards achieving progress in our badges over the following two to four years.
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