Our Child Friendly Manchester Pledge

TeamMCR is committed to supporting Manchester’s ambition to become a UNICEF Child Friendly City as we work together to put children’s rights into practice together, to build a safe, happy, healthy and successful future for Manchester’s children and young people. 

A UNICEF Child-Friendly City is where all children – whether living in care; using a children’s centre, playscheme or youth centre; or visiting their local library – have a say in, and truly benefit from, the local decisions, services and spaces that shape their lives. We want all children and young people in Manchester, regardless of their background, culture, ability or anything else, to feel welcome in the city and have the same opportunities to grow, learn, explore and have fun. 

As a Child-Friendly Manchester Ambassador TeamMCR agrees to: 

  • Advocate and champion children’s rights 
  • Initiate conversations that challenge, influence and support
  • Commit to being informed and knowledgeable about children’s rights and encouraging colleagues to do the same
  • Pledge to listen to children and young people and involve them in decision-making
  • Actively seek out opportunities to engage directly with children and young people, creating the right environment to conduct meaningful conversations so they can have a say on decisions that affect them
  • Encourage others to find out more about our ambition to become a UNICEF Child-Friendly City and help recruit further ambassadors
  • Align our existing priorities or ways of working with a children’s rights-based approach
  • Make children’s rights a priority in planning and decision-making processes in your service or organisation
  • Inform the Council’s Child-Friendly City programme team about the successes and challenges you experience in your role as an ambassador
  • Talk about children’s rights routinely in team meetings, network meetings and board meetings at a local, regional and national level
  • Engage with the Manchester’s annual programme of legacy events and awareness campaigns related to children and young people
  • Being proactive in our role, seeking out new opportunities that support our ambition
  • Publicly pledge your support and having a sincere and active commitment to support Manchester on its journey.