Our Child Friendly Sandwell

School Children holding up words on paper to spell out Sandwell

Putting children and young people at the heart of everything we do

Since August 2024, Sandwell Council has been on an exciting journey to become a more child-friendly place — working closely with UNICEF UK to guide and mentor us along the way.

Being child-friendly means thinking about children first when making decisions, listening to their voices, and making sure Sandwell is a safe, fair and welcoming place for every child to grow up.

Although UNICEF UK will be ending their mentorship programme in June 2026, our commitment remains strong. We will continue to build on what we’ve learned, working with children, families, schools and partners to make Sandwell the best place it can be for children and young people.

Our journey so far

Over the past year, we’ve:

  • Spoken to 2,650 children and young people
  • Engaged with over 80 local organisations
  • Held a Children’s Discovery Day in March 2025
  • Worked with 117 adults to raise awareness of children’s rights
  • Partnered with local businesses to give children opportunities to learn and share their ideas

Together, we’ve identified what matters most to children and young people in Sandwell.

What you told us

You told us that three things are most important:

  • Feeling safe and secure in your neighbourhood
  • Having a sense of family and belonging
  • Making sure everyone is treated fairly and feels included

We’ve also chosen three big themes to guide how the Council and its partners work:

  • Culture: Making sure children’s voices are part of everything we do
  • Communication: Sharing information in ways that are clear and easy to understand
  • Teamwork and leadership: Working together and leading with purpose

Making things better

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far, including:

  • Listening to children’s ideas when making decisions
  • Improving places and services based on your feedback
  • Sharing information in ways that are easier for children to understand

But we know there’s more to do.

We’re now moving into the Development Phase — writing a plan that sets out the actions we’ll take to make sure children and young people feel safe, happy and included.

This plan will be ready by the New Year, and we’ll keep talking to you, your families, schools and community groups to make sure everyone’s ideas are part of it.

What’s next?

We’re working together to:

  • Create a clear plan for the six priority areas
  • Keep listening and learning from children and young people
  • Share updates and celebrate progress
  • Make Sandwell a place where every child feels valued, heard and supported

What do Sandwell's children and young people say about it?

“Young people are key to the future of Sandwell. Having our voices heard loud and clear on important issues that directly affect our lives and matter most to us is important.“

Josh Jordan, aged 17, a SHAPE Forum member

What does Sandwell Council say about it?

“As we continue on our journey to become an outstanding council our aim is that all children in Sandwell, including the most vulnerable, feel safe, heard, nurtured and able to thrive.“

Shokat Lal, Chief Executive

“We’re so lucky to have fantastic children and young people in Sandwell and we want to make sure that they are involved in shaping Sandwell both now and for the future”.

Councillor Kerrie Carmichael – Leader of the Council

“We are committed to making Sandwell a child friendly borough that listens to the voice of children”.

Councillor Jalal Uddin – Children and Families

What do our partners say about it?

Get involved

Want to help shape a Child Friendly Sandwell?

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re a child, young person, parent, carer, teacher, community member or business — your voice matters.

Together, we can make Sandwell a place where every child thrives.