Child Friendly Cardiff, in partnership with Plan UK, has celebrated the achievements of the city’s young people who successfully applied for funding under the Young Changemakers social action scheme.
Focusing on addressing gender-related challenges and fostering leadership and advocacy skills, the event was dedicated to showcasing the innovative projects led by young people, demonstrating the powerful role that they can play in driving social change.
Cardiff Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Sarah Merry said:
“As part of our priority of ‘Equal and Included’, Child Friendly Cardiff recognised the urgent need to address gender issues while nurturing leadership and advocacy skills among young people.
“Our dedication to empowering young people is evident in the success of the Young Changemakers scheme. By providing a platform for young people to take active roles in their community, particularly concerning gender equity, we are helping our children and young people grow into empowered adults who know how to positively use their voices for change.
“We are immensely proud of the creativity and dedication shown by our young changemakers, their work not only addresses critical gender issues but also exemplifies the positive impact that young people can have in their communities.
“This initiative aligns with our broader mission to embed children’s rights into the fabric of the city, ensuring that young voices are not only heard but are instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and equitable community, and continues our journey to making children’s rights a reality in Cardiff, following our achievement of becoming the first UK Child Friendly City in 2023.”
During the event, the Child Friendly Cardiff Gender Report was presented, summarising the findings from all gender projects undertaken by Child Friendly Cardiff and providing recommendations based on these findings. The report serves as a cornerstone for ongoing discussions and actions within the community to implement its recommendations, further cementing our commitment to making Cardiff a leader in children’s rights and gender equity.
Cllr Merry added:
“We hope that the Child Friendly Cardiff Gender Report will guide future efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable Cardiff.”
Child Friendly Cardiff is an initiative aimed at making Cardiff a city where the voices, needs, priorities, and rights of children are an integral part of public policies, programs, and decisions. As the first UK Child Friendly City, Cardiff Council is committed to working with partners and UNICEF UK to ensure that children’s rights are respected and championed across all sectors and that Cardiff is a place that demonstrates how more children feel safe, heard, cared for and are able to flourish as a result.
Plan UK is a global children’s charity working to ensure that children and young people have access to the education, health care, and opportunities they need to thrive. Plan UK works in partnership with organisations like Child Friendly Cardiff to support the rights and well-being of children worldwide.
