Today (Wednesday 20 November) is World Children’s Day and organisations in Salford have announced their commitment to work together to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City.
Salford will join ten other cities from across the UK working towards this prestigious accreditation, where the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions.
At an event yesterday (Tuesday) evening, around 40 young people were joined by Salford’s City Mayor, Paul Dennett, and representatives from the council, the NHS, schools, the University of Salford, housing providers, voluntary and community groups, businesses, the police, faith groups, Salford Community Leisure, the RHS, Salford Reds and Salford FC to set out and agree the ambition for Child Friendly City in Salford and to gather commitments to action.
The status, which takes three to four years to gain, is formal recognition of the positive way a city treats its children and young people. Salford City Council has identified working towards being a UNICEF Child Friendly City as a key priority in its corporate plan. It builds on existing good practice being delivered by the council and a whole host of partners across the city, including having children’s services that OFSTED rated as ‘Good’, with ‘Outstanding’ in 50% of the judgement areas, supporting and promoting young people’s voices through an active Youth Parliament, opening family hubs at locations across the city to give tailored support to families and partnering with the National Literacy Hub and Dolly Parton Library to provide opportunities to learn and enjoy reading from an early age at sessions and facilities that are local and accessible to families.
Cllr Jim Cammell, lead member for children’s and young people’s services at Salford City Council, said “Becoming a Child Friendly City means making Salford a great place for children and young people to grow up and feel safe, cared for, heard and have quality opportunities to learn, work and play.
“By working towards becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City, we will take Salford on the next stage on our journey to champion the voices and rights of children and young people in the city.”
A bid will now be prepared to begin the formal process.
Photo L to R: Melissa Caslake, Executive Director, Children’s Services, Salford City Council; Ryan Matope, Salford Youth Parliament; Jackson Walton, Salford Youth Parliament; Cllr Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, Salford City Council and Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor.
