Wokingham Borough Council begin their journey with UNICEF UK to put children’s rights front and centre in the community.

In a bid to be recognised as a child friendly community, the council will be joining eight other areas around the UK to make children feel prioritised within local government.

‘Friendly cities and communities programme’ was launched on February 1 and will take three to five years to complete. This will include working with children, young people and various organisations to develop an improvement plan.

The programme is part of a global UNICEF initiative that reaches almost 30 million children in over 40 countries.

Bracknell News:

Within the next three to five years, the council will be focusing on ensuring that local children feel safe and secure, equal and included, healthy, and making sure that there are participating and child friendly services available.

 UNICEF UK says the programme aims to change the way local government works with and for children, so children have a say in decisions that affect them and know what services are available to them.

Councillor Graham Howe, executive member for children’s services said: “I am honoured and humbled that we have been successful in our bid to become a candidate UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community.

 “We have long been known as a great place for young families, so being able to further that commitment through our partnership with UNICEF UK will make our borough an even better place to live for our children and young people.”

Naomi Danquah, Director of Child Friendly Cities and Communities at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), said: “We are delighted to welcome Wokingham to the UNICEF UK Child Friendly Cities and Communities programme.”

“Determination and enthusiasm absolutely shone through Wokingham’s application to join the programme and work towards recognition as a UNICEF UK Child Friendly Community.

"We were particularly impressed by the council’s vision of Wokingham as a place where children and young people feel as listened to and respected as the borough’s adult residents.

“This partnership presents a unique opportunity to do just that – using children’s right to transform how children and young people experience local services in Wokingham – and we’re excited to get this important work underway.”