Leeds children have been ‘amazing’ during the coronavirus lockdown

City councillor Fiona Venner, executive member for children and families, also said young people have responded magnificently to a series of online art challenges during lockdown.

The Kirkstall ward representative said: “The children of Leeds have been absolutely amazing. Councillor Jonathan Pryor (the executive member for learning, skills and employment) and I wrote a letter asking schools to thank children for everything they are doing. They are staying at home, they are clapping for carers, they are making beautiful rainbows, which are adoring the city.”

Coun Venner has got one such rainbow in her window, which was made by her neighbours as part of a home schooling art project. They also made her some paper bears to pin up so children could do a ‘bear hunt’ while they were doing their one walk per day.

She has also been impressed by how children have responded to this difficult time when all their normal routines have been disrupted. The councillor said: “Children have been really amazing in terms of how resilient they have been and how creative. We recognise it is a really hard time for children. They are out of their routine, they are not in school and not with their friends. So we wrote a letter to them to say thank you for everything that they are doing.”

The fortnightly social media art competition for children has been run under the hashtag of #OurChildFriendlyLeeds. There have been various themes and the most recent one was VE Day.

Coun Venner said: “I chose the shortlisted entrants which was a lovely start to my week. I picked the little boy who won because he had done so many things. He had made a Spitfire from scratch with his dad, he had written out a diary entry as if he was in the war and he had also made ‘Potato Jane’, which was some kind of wartime recipe when they were on rations. There were lots of lovely entries, there were beautiful cakes, artwork and pieces of writing.”

A lot of Child Friendly Leeds’ activities have had to move online because of the coronavirus restrictions. Scheduled events have had to be cancelled or postponed, like Child Friendly Leeds Live. The event, which coincides with National Play Day in early August, came out of a competition asking young people for ideas to make the city centre more child friendly. The winner was a children’s festival.

The event is held in Millennium Square and is a real crowd-puller. It is always hosted by a CBeebies star and last year’s star turn was Mr Bloom and His Band.

But Coun Venner said: “We’ve had to postpone it, but we are looking at what we can do online to mark National Play Day.”

One thing Coun Venner hopes can go ahead is the ceremony for next year’s children’s mayor. The application process for it is due to be launched in a few weeks.

The council chief added: “It is open to all primary school children in Year Five. They write a manifesto and they get shortlisted down to 12 who are voted on by children in the city. The one with the most votes gets to be the Children’s Mayor. The ceremony for that is due to be in the Autumn. Again, I’m really hoping that is something we will be able to go ahead with, but we don’t know at this stage.”

For more see: childfriendlyleeds.wordpress.com.

Child Friendly Leeds (CFL) was launched by the Queen in 2012.

It arose out of a global movement of child friendly cities, which was initiated by UNICEF.

Coun Fiona Venner, who leads CFL, said: “It is about bringing the city together. We have children and young people involved and also 900 CFL ambassadors.”

These businesses and organisations range from Trinity and White Rose shopping centres, to charities and universities.

CFL is based on a children’s and young person’s plan, which has five aims. These are: To be safe from harm; To do well at all levels of learning and to have skills for life; To enjoy healthy lifestyles; To have fun growing up; And to be active citizens who feel they have a voice and influence.

Its showpiece event is the annual CFL Awards in February. Children are heavily involved in planning and delivering the ceremony, which recognises the people, places and organisations who make a positive contribution for youth.

Other work focuses on looked after children and care leaders.

Coun Venner said: “We recognise they don’t have the same opportunities as other children, so a lot of our business ambassadors will do things like providing placements and work experience for looked after children and care leaders who don’t have the same network of friends and families that other children do.”

SOURCE: www.leeds.gov.uk/childfriendlyleeds.