Liverpool has earned global acclaim after being named a UNICEF Child-Friendly City

This honour from UNICEF UK highlights the city’s success in weaving children’s rights into local services, policies, and neighbourhoods, making sure youth are heard, respected, and empowered to influence key decisions.

The milestone follows a ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted for the council’s Children’s Services, with inspectors praising “relentless improvements” over the three years since the service was deemed ‘Inadequate’.

Building on the Child Friendly City designation, Council Leader Cllr Liam Robinson will launch a new ‘Youth Parliament’ during the full council meeting on Wednesday 29 July.

This body will be responsible for creating a Child Friendly City ‘manifesto’ packed with fresh ideas and projects suggested directly by local youth.

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Major milestones along Liverpool’s journey to this status include:

A steadfast dedication to giving young people a stronger voice in local decision-making.
Enhanced outdoor areas and play facilities through upgraded parks, tree-planting projects, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) play initiatives, and smoke-free playgrounds and sidelines.
The launch of an innovative auto-enrolment system for free school meals, which identified over 700 eligible students and secured nearly £1 million in extra Pupil Premium funds for local schools.
The establishment of twelve Family Hubs across Liverpool, offering a centralised network of community-based support for local families.
Strong early education standards, with 89.9% of nurseries and 86.2% of childminders rated ‘Good’ or higher by OFSTED.
The rollout of Phase 1 and 2 free breakfast clubs across 47 schools, giving children a healthy meal to start their school day.
Securing 85,758 HAF spots during 2025-2026, delivering nutritious meals, play, and enrichment to 9,389 children across the city.
The debut of free Lifestyles Leisure passes for youth aged 8-17 to boost physical and mental well-being, backed by a £5.18m upgrade to local leisure centres.
Doubling investment in youth services, providing an additional £1 million to place youth workers where they are needed most.
Allocating over £600,000 to renovate playgrounds with modern equipment, revamp green spaces, and protect valuable community assets.
Integrating children’s rights training across Liverpool City Council staff, contractors, and partner groups.
Partnering with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to provide free transport passes for care-experienced youth. More than 1,600 passes (including over 600 for Liverpool care leavers) have facilitated over 200,000 bus trips, enabling independent, confident travel.

While celebrating the recognition, Liverpool City Council emphasised that Child Friendly City status is an ongoing pledge to continuous improvement, not merely an award.

“We are incredibly proud that Liverpool has achieved UNICEF Child Friendly City status. This international recognition reflects the dedication of children and young people, families, schools, community organisations and council teams and partners across the city.

“Most importantly, this achievement belongs to Liverpool’s children and young people. Their voices are shaping decisions across the city and helping us build services that are designed with them, not for them.

“Child Friendly City status recognises progress, not perfection. We know there is more to do, but this recognition shows that Liverpool is a city where children’s rights matter and where we are committed to creating the best possible opportunities for every child and young person.

“This is not a badge – it is a commitment to ongoing change, and we look forward to continuing that journey together.”

Jenny Glennard, Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services at Liverpool City Council, added:

“From the design of parks and public spaces to shaping policies and services, children and young people in Liverpool are increasingly helping to shape the city around them.

“UNICEF’s recognition and Ofsted’s findings both demonstrate that Liverpool is moving in the right direction. They show what can be achieved when we listen to children and young people, invest in services and work together across the city to improve outcomes.

“The next phase of work will continue to strengthen how children’s voices shape the city and its services.

“The council and its partners will also continue to embed children’s rights across services, ensuring that every child and young person can access safe spaces, opportunities to thrive and a genuine voice in decisions affecting their lives.”

Frances Bestley, Director of Programmes, UNICEF UK said:

“Recognition as a Child Friendly City is a fantastic achievement for Liverpool and reflects the city’s commitment to creating a place where children feel safe, supported and able to thrive.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see real progress being made, from improvements to play areas and green spaces, to more children receiving free school meals and the opening of 12 new Family Hubs.

“This milestone is not just a celebration of what has been achieved so far – it’s a commitment to keep building on that progress – ensuring every child and young person is listened to, supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.”