Bradford bids to be UNICEF ‘Child friendly city’

Bradford Council has agreed with partners to work towards gaining the status, and Community status for the wider District.

It would help make sure the voices, needs, priorities and rights of children are made an integral part of public policies, programmes and decisions.

The process is expected to take up to five years.

UNICEF describes a child-friendly city and community as "a city, town, community or any system of local governance committed to fulfilling child rights as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child."

Cities and communities are invited to take part in the initiative and the Council says initial exploration with UNICEF has shown that they are interested in Bradford becoming a Child Friendly City and Community.

A key expectation from UNICEF is evidence of strong leadership and partnership working between organisations that deliver services for children, with a commitment to develop to create sustainable and imaginative policies that support the district’s children and young people.

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Evidence from more than 20 years shows that gaining a Child Friendly City and Community status can dramatically improve outcomes for children and young people.

Across the Bradford District the investment is expected to support a number of improvements, including:

• Joined-up policies, strategies and practice that support better educational outcomes for children and young people

• Improved services for children by introducing a framework that includes a child’s rights based approach

• Transformations in the "built environment," transport infrastructure and living spaces, with more safe spaces and recreational spaces

• Renewal of local democracy and governance and greater empowerment of young people

• More effective use of resources by focussing on the root causes of problems, such as poor educational attainment, childhood health problems and poverty

The process of becoming a Child Friendly City and Community takes between three and five years.

Councillor Adrian Farley, portfolio holder for children and families, said: “Our district is one of the youngest, most diverse in Britain. Around one third of our population is under the age of 18 so we want our district to be recognised as a champion of children’s rights, demonstrating to everyone that children and young people are integral to the life, health and well-being of the whole community. We know that this is the start of the process and that getting on the programme is not guaranteed, but gaining Child Friendly City and Community status will support our ambition to listen to the voices of children and young people. It will mean that we put them at the heart of our community and our decision making.”

Janice Hawkes, Assistant Director Children’s Services, from Barnardo’s, said: “Our children and young people are our future, so gaining Child Friendly City and Community status would be a fantastic development for our district. It would recognise the great work that goes on here, but will move us to the next level in making sure we provide the best services across out district for our children and young people and support them in achieving the very best they can.”

Tehmina Hashmi, Executive Principal, Bradford Academy and John Devlin, Executive principal, and Chair of Keighley Schools Together, said: “We know there are many positive initiatives supporting children and young people across our district and schools play a core role in these. Working towards gaining Child Friendly City and Community status will be a brilliant way of bringing these initiatives together. It will give greater weight and recognition to the needs of children and young people in the decisions we make and show our ambition and commitment to put their needs at the top of our priorities.”