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Liverpool has recently been honored with the designation of a UNICEF Child Friendly City, a prestigious acknowledgement from UNICEF UK. This accolade highlights Liverpool’s significant strides in integrating children’s rights into its policies, services, and communities. At the heart of this effort is a focus on ensuring that young people are heard, respected, and empowered to actively participate in decisions shaping their lives.
This recognition comes on the heels of a positive Ofsted inspection, which rated Liverpool’s Children’s Services as ‘Good’. Inspectors commended the council’s “relentless improvements” made over the past three years following a previous rating of ‘Inadequate’. Building on this momentum, Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, plans to announce the launch of a new Youth Parliament at the upcoming full council meeting on 29 July. The parliament will play a key role in shaping a Child Friendly City manifesto, reflecting the ideas and priorities voiced by children and young people.
Liverpool’s journey to this achievement has involved a variety of impactful initiatives. Among them are enhanced outdoor spaces supporting play through park redevelopments, tree planting, and smoke-free areas. The city also pioneered a free school meals auto-enrolment programme that identified over 700 eligible children, resulting in nearly £1 million additional funding for schools. Furthermore, Liverpool established twelve Family Hubs, offering centralized support for families within their communities. High-quality early education is another pillar, with nearly 90% of nurseries and over 86% of childminders rated good or above by Ofsted. The introduction of free breakfast clubs in 47 schools helps ensure access to nutritious meals for students, while nearly 9,400 children benefited from the 2025-2026 Holiday Activities and Food programme, gaining access to healthy meals and enriching activities.
Significant investments have also been made in youth services and facilities, including a doubling of funding for youth workers and more than £600,000 spent on upgrading playgrounds and green spaces. Liverpool recently launched free Lifestyles Leisure passes for children aged 8-17, aimed at promoting both physical health and emotional wellbeing, supported by £5.18 million for modernizing leisure centres. The city also collaborates with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide free travel passes for care-experienced young people, helping them travel independently with dignity and confidence. Despite this celebration, Liverpool City Council emphasizes that Child Friendly City status represents a continuous commitment to improvement, not a one-time accomplishment.
Reflecting on the achievement, Cllr Liz Parsons, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services, expressed pride in the recognition, attributing it to the work of children, families, schools, community groups, and council teams. She highlighted that the success belongs foremost to the children and young people whose voices influence city decisions. Parsons underscored that the status signifies progress rather than perfection and reaffirmed the city’s dedication to creating opportunities for every child. Jenny Glennard, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services, pointed to how children’s input is increasingly shaping parks, policies, and services. She emphasized that both UNICEF and Ofsted’s acknowledgments demonstrate Liverpool’s positive trajectory and commitment to embedding children’s rights across all relevant areas. Frances Bestley, Director of Programmes at UNICEF UK, praised Liverpool’s efforts in creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and able to flourish. She noted that this milestone reflects both past successes and a promise to continue advancing the welfare and voices of young people throughout the city
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