CHILDREN’S needs will be put at the heart of council decision making as part of a new child friendly policy.

The Child Friendly Herefordshire strategy, approved unanimously at the council meeting on Friday, October 10, embeds the principle that every child and young person in Herefordshire deserves to be safe, loved, heard, and supported to reach their full potential.

Policy commitments include:

  • To adopt a formal policy of Child Friendly Herefordshire, embedding the principle of putting children and young people’s safety and wellbeing at the heart of all decisions.
  • To ensure children and young people have meaningful opportunities to shape decisions that affect them.
  • To ask the executive to work with partners across public services, schools, health, business, transport, community groups, and voluntary organisations to create a county-wide partnership for Child Friendly Herefordshire.
  • To ask the Leader to report annually to Council on progress towards making Herefordshire a county where children and young people thrive.

The motion was presented by Councillor Toni Fagan (Green, Birch ward), Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee, who said: “I’m delighted that council has unanimously approved the adoption of the Child Friendly Herefordshire policy.

“This reflects the council’s aim to make Herefordshire a county where all children and young people can thrive, and the approval means we will formally join other child friendly communities across the UK.”

Councillor Ivan Powell (True Independents, Hagley), Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, added: “This important policy aligns with the objectives of our Council Plan and our Children’s Strategic Plan.

“It extends the commitment from all those representing, working and leading services, to create opportunities to engage and understand the views and experiences of being a child and young person growing up in Herefordshire.

“We are committed to ensuring our children and young people feel seen, heard and valued as residents of our county.”