Belfast Healthy Cities are hosting a seminar on child–friendly cities. 

Child friendly cities are places which offer safe, green and clean spaces where children can meet others and play freely. Child friendly cities also listen to children, and take into account their needs and wishes, which often can help create a positive environment for everyone.

Belfast Healthy Cities, working with partners and directly with children has undertaken two projects exploring child friendly environments. You are invited to hear the findings at a seminar which will feature presentations by participating children and addresses by VIP guests. The seminar offers an opportunity for professionals in a range of sectors from planning, transport and regeneration to local government and health to gain experiences of the physical environment through the eyes of children.

The keynote address will describe the comprehensive Children’s City approach developed over many years by the city of Sandnes in Norway, a fellow WHO Healthy City.

The event will also include a Children’s Question Time, during which participating children discuss issues on the physical environment with a panel of senior decision makers.

The featured projects are:

Shaping Healthier Environments for Children: a project working with primary schools and an afterschool club in Suffolk and Lenadoon in west Belfast, which used photography and art to give children an opportunity to express their views about their local environment.

KidsSquare: a three day public event testing what child friendly space in the city centre could look like.

Reports on the two projects will be available at the event.

To register please contact Caroline Scott at Belfast Healthy Cities office.  Click here to view the programme.

Date: Tuesday 28 February 2012

Time: 10am–12pm

Venue: Belfast City Hall