Agenda item

To receive and consider a report giving details of the Unicef application.

Jo Jolly, Acting Service Manager, Children’s Services Programme Implementationshared a presentation about the Unicef application.

Some of the points highlighted are listed below:

·           Wokingham Borough Council was applying to be part of the Child Friendly Cities and Communites programme, this programme worked with councils to put children’s rights into practice;

·           The programmed aimed to give all children a chance to have their voice heard;

·           In the UK there were seven cities/communities that were either already part of the programme or in the process of applying;

·           Unicef had been particularly interested in working with Wokingham because of its unique demographics, being a wealthy Borough with significant pockets of deprivation;

·           This initiative was part of an ambitious improvement programme in Children’s Services;

·           Wokingham had been working on the application with partners in across the area;

·           The result of the application would be known in August and if successful it would start to be implemented in September;

·           The programme was split into four sections:

·           Discovery – 6 months

·           Development – 2 to 3 months

·           delivery – 2 to 4 years

·           recognition – 3 years

·           Unicef set out badges to work towards;

·           Councillors were encouraged to get involved in the discovery and implantation phases.

During the discussion of the item the following comments were made:

·           Councillor Margetts asked how Councillors could get involved in the programme.  Jo Jolly stated that the programme would be child led, so the involvement of Councillors would be based on what the children/young people decided;

·           Carol Cammiss stated that as part of the work that had already been undertaken, the child friendly Officers had already started to ascertain what the priorities were for young people.  An event with the Youth Council was going to take place on 6 July, where a Unicef person was going to attend.  The Youth Council was going to be consulted on the direction of travel of the programme;

·           Carol Cammiss stated that communication would be sent to Councillors with opportunities for engagement;

·           In response to a question Jo Jolly stated that the programme was for all children that lived or attended school in the Borough;

·           In response to a question Jo Jolly stated that the service was looking for guidance from Unicef into how best to engage with children for this programme, in addition to the forums that were already being used;

·           Councillor Helliar-Symonds stated that Councillor Batth was already undertaking a piece of work to engage with young people and suggested that he be contacted to work together on this programme;

·           In response to a question Carol Cammiss stated that this programme was very broad and would be part of various strategies and policies within the service;

·           Councillor Bray asked if the equalities agenda was being considered.  Jo Jolly stated that equalities had already been identified as a priority for young people.

Councillor Bray asked how Members could be involved in the 6 July meeting.  Carol Cammiss stated that the agenda was being drawn up with young people, she would let them know that Members were interested in taking part and communicate with Members accordingly.

Members commended the work being undertaken to take part in this project.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.