Children and young people have voted on the priorities of the Child Friendly Redbridge programme

More than 2000 Redbridge children and young people have voted on the priorities they want from living in the borough - and they are:

• safe and secure
• being healthy
• place

Following a year of engagement, officers from Redbridge Council spent two weeks in February engaging online with children and young people as part of Redbridge’s ‘Discovery Fortnight’.

This was an opportunity for young people to vote on the priorities they want the council and its partners to focus on throughout the remainder of its exciting partnership with the UK Committee for UNICEF’s (UNICEF UK) Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme.

Under the three priorities, Redbridge Council and its partners will seek to address issues raised by children and young people around harassment faced by young women, travelling to and from school, accessing information and services for young people experiencing mental health issues and climate change.

Now these priority topic areas have been chosen, the council will commence the Development Phase of the UNICEF UK Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme. Children, young people, and youth practitioners will come together to identify what action needs to take place under each priority.

This work will ensure that the voices of different groups of young people are captured so they will continue to work with the council, its partners and UNICEF UK on the actions and improvements they voted for.

It will start in the coming weeks, continuing through the Spring and will include work on Special Educational Needs & Disabilities Youth Forum and the Children in Care Councils.

Naomi Danquah, Child Friendly Cities & Communities Programme Director UNICEF UK said:

“Despite the challenges of the past year, the council has found exciting new digital ways to keep listening to its youngest residents.
“At the same time, the children and young people of Redbridge have taken time out of busy, screen-heavy schedules to tell the council what they want to see change in their local area.

“This is a huge milestone in the borough’s journey towards recognition as a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community and we’re excited to see how the community comes together over the next few years to take action in these important areas.”

To keep up to date and find out more about Child Friendly Redbridge.