Getting ready for the the first child friendly Leeds awards
It’s been a busy couple of weeks in our office. I work with the communications team and help with all things child friendly. This week we launched nominations for the first ever child friendly Leeds awards so I’ve been busy creating nomination forms, making sure the website works and planning how we can make sure everyone has the chance to vote. The awards do what they say on the tin – they will celebrate those making Leeds a child friendly city.
Young people told us what a child friendly city would look like and helped us to put together their 12 wishes: things they would wish for in a child friendly city. Now it is time to recognise those people and places meeting the challenge.
There are, and always have been, thousands of people in Leeds working with children and young people, providing fun and safe spaces, activities, education and services for young people. The child friendly Leeds awards will celebrate all these and more with four categories:
- Best place for children and young people;
- Children’s champion;
- Looking after young people; and
- Best overall contribution.
But, the best bit is, we’re not organising the awards. Young people are! So I guess can relax now. From now until January it will be the turn of the organising group to be busy. The group is made up of a group of 10 very enthusiastic young people. I met them last week and they are brimming with ideas and ready to take on some of the biggest roles in the event planning process, such as hosting, stage managing and event programming. I’m not sure we’re in for your usual run of the mill awards night – I heard talk of costumes, slapstick comedy and, well I won’t spoil the surprises. On second thought maybe it’s not quite time to relax yet!
Go visit the nominations page now and make sure the first ever child friendly Leeds awards go to the people and places you think deserve it.
