Redbridge launches its UNICEF Child Friendly Action Plan as part of its mission to make the borough an even better place for children and young people

Redbridge Council officially launched its Unicef Child Friendly Action Plan Launch on Saturday, 26 February in Ilford Town Centre.

Local families with young and teenage children have shaped the Child Friendly Redbridge Action Plan during the 18-month engagement project, sharing their thoughts and ideas and highlighting ways to improve Redbridge and make it an even better place for our children and young people. 

The Action Plan was approved by Cabinet in December 2021 by Councillors, with two of the borough's Child Friendly Redbridge Youth Ambassadors sharing statements about why the Action Plan was important to them.

The launch event revealed how children, young people and families will work together over the next two to three years. 

The Child Friendly Redbridge Youth Ambassadors planned the launch. Partners including Vision Libraries, the Ilford Exchange, Ilford Business Improvement District (BID) and Space Studios all joined in the fun, providing lots of free activities for children and young people, including;

• a digital makerspace
• tech activities for all ages
• an eco-conscious Repair Café
• Hungry Caterpillar finger puppet crafts and Children's Library trail
• a Keith Haring-inspired craft workshop
• Official announcement of the new Make Your Mark representatives – complete with mocktails and festival vibes!
• The chance to speak to our Community Hubs team

People also got the opportunity to speak to local police about what makes them feel safe and visit the new billboard at Space Ilford, which young people from Hainault designed.

Councillor Jas Athwal, Leader of the Council, said: "With our fantastic schools, beautiful parks and incredible leisure facilities, Redbridge is the perfect place to raise a family. I'm really proud that we've launched our action plan to achieve UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community status for Redbridge and achieve our mission to make our borough a place in which children and young people, regardless of their background, thrive."

Yusuf, a Child-Friendly Redbridge Youth Ambassador, said: "I got involved as a UNICEF Child Friendly Redbridge Ambassador because I believe young people deserve to grow up in an environment that lets us aim high and achieve our goals by reaching our potential. The council must embed a commitment to our rights in every decision it makes. 

"Children and young people need and deserve a voice. You won't hear us unless you listen to us. We need to be included in important conversations."

UNICEF UK's Child Friendly Communities initiative is a global programme encouraging local services to commit to fulfilling children's rights. The aim is to create a community where children's voices, needs, priorities, and rights play an integral part in public policies and programmes and are involved in the decision-making process.

Following the event, lunch was provided by Ilford BID at Faroz Turkish Restaurant for the young people involved in the launch.

You can find out more about the Child Friendly Redbridge programme here.