Sandwell is working towards recognition as a UNICEF Child Friendly Community.
Sandwell is at the heart of the West Midlands, and we have a young, diverse and rapidly growing population. We’re proud of the diverse communities that bring so much to our borough. We want Sandwell to be a great place for children to grow up.
What does it mean to be working towards becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly Community?
Child Friendly Cities & Communities is a UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) programme that works with councils to put children’s rights into practice. The programme aims to create cities and communities across the UK where all children – whether they are living in care, using a children’s centre, or simply visiting their local library – have a meaningful say in, and truly benefit from, the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives.
Acceptance onto the Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme, is just the start of what will be a three-to-five-year programme where Sandwell must demonstrate that it is a place where the local council and its partners are committed to advancing children's rights, and have worked with UNICEF UK to put them into practice.
Where are we now
Sandwell joined the Child Friendly Cities & Communities programme in September 2024. We are in the ‘Discovery’ phase of our journey, which means the council will be working with local partners and children and young people to agree which areas to prioritise, as we work towards being recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly Community.
What do Sandwell's children and young people say about it?
“Young people are key to the future of Sandwell. Having our voices heard loud and clear on important issues that directly affect our lives and matter most to us is important.“
Josh Jordan, aged 17, a SHAPE Forum member
What does Sandwell Council say about it?
“As we continue on our journey to become an outstanding council our aim is that all children in Sandwell, including the most vulnerable, feel safe, heard, nurtured and able to thrive.“
Shokat Lal, Chief Executive
“We’re so lucky to have fantastic children and young people in Sandwell and we want to make sure that they are involved in shaping Sandwell both now and for the future”.
Councillor Kerrie Carmichael – Leader of the Council
“We are committed to making Sandwell a child friendly borough that listens to the voice of children”.
Councillor Jalal Uddin – Children and Families
What do our partners say about it?
What happens next
It takes between three and five years to become recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly City or Community. The programme journey has four stages:
- Discovery – where we are now
- Development – we will draft an action plan and set out how we will achieve progress in our six priority areas
- Delivery – we will be working with our local partners and children and young people to carry out our action plan
- Recognition – UNICEF UK and an independent panel of children’s rights experts will assess our progress. Once recognised as a UNICEF Child Friendly Community, we will hold this global title for three years.