Child-Friendly Medway Young Citizens Award
 The Child-Friendly Medway team delivering a Young Citizens assembly.
Child-Friendly Medway launched the Medway Young Citizens Award in October 2024 to recognise and celebrate children and young people who have done something outstanding, made a difference in their school or community, or have overcome challenges.
A Medway Young Citizen could be a child or young person who:
- cares for animals
- helps an elderly resident
- clears litter
- is polite
- learns or shares a creative skill
- is a good friend
- is courageous or compassionate
- is an anti-bully ambassador
- or something else that needs recognising!
Children and young people from year 3 to the end of year 6 (ages 7 to 11) attending a Medway school, home-schooled in Medway, or living in Medway can be recognised by parents, carers, community members, other pupils, friends, and school staff for going above and beyond. For under 16's, nominations must be sent by an adult.
Child-Friendly Medway is now visiting schools to talk about the new Young Citizen initiative, and to present awards to children and young people.
In Term One, Child-Friendly Medway visited Luton Primary School to launch the Young Citizen initiative. Child-Friendly Medway delivered a special assembly telling children and young people about this new initiative, as well as listening to the children and young people’s ideas on what makes a good young citizen.
In Term Two, Child-Friendly Medway visited Cuxton School to continue promoting the Young Citizen initiative, and Balfour Junior School for an assembly, to award one of their students with a Young Citizens certificate and badge, who had been nominated for:
‘overcoming challenges he has faced in school, and making fantastic progress in class, being a member of school parliament, making posters to remind others to look after school laptops and suggesting new clubs to run’.
If you know a child or young person who you would like to be recognised as a great Young Citizen, please send your nomination by email to childfriendly@medway.gov.uk or click here to fill in the nomination form.
If you would like Child-Friendly Medway to visit your Primary School to deliver an assembly and provide more information on the Young Citizens initiative, please email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk
Click here to learn more about the Child-Friendly Medway Young Citizen Award.
Tree Planting Day
The Child-Friendly Medway team with the Climate Change team and other volunteers, at the tree planting volunteer day in Hoo.
The Child-Friendly Medway Team volunteered at Deangate Recreation Ground, Hoo on Friday, 31 May to help plant over 300 trees with fellow volunteers, councillors, and Medway Council’s Greenspaces and Climate Change teams.
Across three planting days, over 100 volunteers planted 3,500 carefully selected tree species, including oak, hawthorn, and disease-resistant elms. These trees will enhance the environment and support Medway Council’s climate change goals.
As part of Medway Council's exciting regeneration programme, the development of Deangate Community Parkland will also be coming forward this year with construction expected to commence before the end of 2025. Amongst the improvements that will benefit local residents include new picnic areas, new cycle paths, new paths for walkers and dog walkers and new public signage providing info on the local habitats that are based at the site, including nightingales.
Children and young people have told us that making Medway cleaner and greener is important to them and this has formed part of our Child-Friendly Medway action plan set by children and young people.
Child-Friendly Medway regularly receive postcard feedback from children and young people, sharing that they would like ‘more trees, nature, and wildlife in Medway; this has inspired the team to support the tree planting day, and we are also supporting growing tree seedlings for future planting.
Inflatable Fun Day
Families at Inflatable Fun Day.
Child-Friendly Medway hosted a free Inflatables Fun Day for February half-term on Monday, 17 February at Medway Park Sports Centre. Over 400 children and young people joined us for games, activities, and more!
Attendees could take part in the assault course, bouncy castle, soft play, and mega slide, and try their skills at football darts, penalty shoot-out, and basketball.
When children and young people weren’t running, bouncing, and jumping, they could get their face painted. Attendees could also take part in activities with our partners, including the Hang-Bar Challenge with Medway Sport and maths games and puzzles with Medway Adult Education. They also had the opportunity to have a chat with Kent Police, finding out about the services they offer and what they do in their job, as well as talking to Medway Youth Service, to find out more their local youth centre.
One guest sent us this following the event:
‘Thank you so much for such an amazing event.
All the staff were so friendly, patient and understanding with the kids and took the time to have fun with them too. Kent Police was a special touch, we left with good knowledge and information that we didn’t know before! Amazing face painters too and a great selection of inflatables.
Thank you to the Medway Safer Streets sponsors and to all the amazing staff!’
This event was funded by Medway Safer Streets.
Family Fun Fair: Celebrating Diversity, Inclusion, and Culture
 Child having a go at hook-a-duck at our Family Fun Fair.
Child-Friendly Medway delivered a Free Family Fun Fair on Thursday, 20 February, celebrating culture, diversity, and inclusion at The Rochester Corn Exchange.
Over 280 children, young people, and families joined us for a day of games, activities, and fun!
As part of the fun fair, children and young people were able to have a go at:
- Hook-A-Duck
- Hoopla
- Darts
- Play Your Cards Right
- Tin Can Alley
- Ball-In-Bucket
- Coconut Shy
- Our Child-Friendly Medway Spinning Wheel
…and even get their face painted!
Partners joining us on the day included Kent Police, who spoke with attendees about safety, and even had a dance as part of Medway Youth Service’s Silent Disco! Attendees could also take part in arts and crafts with Nucleus Arts, making magic wands, as well as getting to know all about Medway Culture Club and Medway Children and Family Hubs. Families had the opportunity to speak with Medway Parents and Carers Forum, where children and young people could also write their ‘wish’ and add it to their tree.
The Child-Friendly Medway team collected feedback from children and young people about how to make Medway even more welcoming and inclusive for all the community. When consulting with children and young people, they told us that they want Medway to be community focused and to feel welcoming to all. They also told us that they want opportunities to explore creativity and culture. Community Focused and Creativity and Culture are two of Child-Friendly Medway's core themes.
This event provided a safe space where children, young people, and families could explore and celebrate diversity, inclusion, and culture in informative and creative ways.
This event was funded by Medway Start for Life.
Have you been to one of our events?
Don’t forget to share with us on our social media channels: @ChildFriendlyMedway on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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