00:00Liverpool has achieved UNICEF child-friendly city status, recognising the work the Council says has been carried out to put
00:08children's rights at the centre of decision-making.
00:12UNICEF UK says the recognition reflects progress in ensuring children and young people are listened to, respected and given opportunities
00:20to influence the issues that affect them.
00:22Liverpool City Council says the achievement follows improvements across a range of services, including support for families, education and opportunities
00:30for young people.
00:31The recognition comes after Ofsted rated the Council's children's services as good, following an inspection which highlighted what the Council
00:38described as improvements over the previous three years.
00:41The Council says one of the next steps will be the creation of a youth parliament, announced by Council Leader
00:46Councillor Liam Robinson.
00:47It will help develop a child-friendly city manifesto based on ideas from children and young people.
00:53Among the changes highlighted by the Council are the introduction of 12 family hubs, improvements to parks and play areas
00:58and a free school meals auto-enrolment programme which identified more than 700 children as eligible.
01:04The Council also says investment in youth services has doubled, with an additional £1 million available to support youth workers.
01:11UNICEF UK says the status is not just a celebration of progress so far, but a commitment to continue improving
01:17opportunities for children.
01:19The Council says there's more work to do, but the recognition shows the city's focused on creating services shaped with
01:24children and young people, while ensuring their voices remain part of future decisions.
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