Hosted by Rhian Powell, Esther Muddiman & Chris Taylor (Cardiff University)
This invitation-only roundtable will explore the progress and prospects of cities which have embarked on the path of becoming a UNICEF-recognised ‘Child Friendly City’. The Child Friendly City initiative is designed to create communities in which children have a say in, and benefit from, the local decisions, services and spaces which shape their lives.
Several cities in the UK have just embarked on this journey and this roundtable provides a timely opportunity to share experiences and explore what is happening in cities in the UK and elsewhere.
The event is being organised by the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Research and Data (WISERD) based in sbarc|spark at Cardiff University. We have been conducting research into the implementation of Child Friendly Cities (CFCs) in different national contexts including Finland, France, Germany, UK, USA, Switzerland.
This roundtable will involve facilitated discussion with representatives from various CFCs across the UK. Participants from UK CFCs will be invited to share their experiences with one another. The research team will also draw upon their research in other countries. During the roundtable we expect to discuss the following:
- What are the various goals of the Child Friendly Cities?
- What are the barriers that impede progress towards these goals?
- What lessons can we learn from other cities and contexts?
Each CFC will be invited to talk about the progress, challenges and opportunities in their particular cities/context throughout the day.