October Network Meeting Tuesday 27th October 2020 “Redbridge – Child friendly Borough?”

Members and supporters of Redbridge Faith Forum were delighted to have the opportunity to hear from Redbridge teenagers about their involvement in the Redbridge Youth Council, Ambassador Panel and Children In Care Council in the October Network Meeting which fell in half-term.  Their eloquence and enthusiasm were much admired, and it was great to hear from them – young people are our future.

The borough recognises this and is bidding to become a Unicef accredited child friendly borough aiming to give children and young people a bigger voice in the areas that affect them.  Every secondary school has appointed a Child Friendly Ambassador to link with the council. The top two priorities that young people have identified is feeling safe and secure and being healthy and work has commenced on these two areas with the young people producing a leaflet for pupils returning to school after lockdown with much signposting information and tips on mental health, travelling to school, careers guidance  (this is available on request from the RFF Office). 

Developing safer routes to school is another project with pilots due to start in Ilford and Barkingside with input from the schools police officers. 

Another welcome new initiative is the Out of Schools Settings Support Service which is offering a membership scheme giving lots of benefits for settings that sign up https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/schools/out-of-school-setting/