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Child-Friendly Medway won the category of Community Support at the Make a Difference Awards 2025
The Make a Difference Awards are for Medway Council employees who have gone above and beyond, celebrating their hard work and achievements for Medway.
The Child-Friendly Medway team were delighted to have won the Community Support category on Thursday, 18 December at The Rochester Corn Exchange.
We were awarded this for demonstrating exceptional commitment to enriching the lives of children, young people and families in Medway.
Child-Friendly Medway launched in April 2021 and deliver a variety of programmes, initiatives, and events for Medway’s youngest residents, such as our:
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Seeing is Believing programme of free events, providing opportunities for children, young people, and families to take part in different activities.
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For the Love of Reading initiative, encouraging children and young people to read and develop a love for books.
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Young Citizen Award recognising Medway’s youngest residents for their brilliant fundraising efforts and being caring friends by including everyone.
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Young Mayor project offering children aged 10 or 11 a celebratory role in their community.
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City Hall events providing a direct line of communication between the Leader of Medway Council, Cllr Vince Maple, and the Chief Executive of Medway Council, Richard Hicks, where they can share their views on what it is like to grow up in Medway.
Child-Friendly Medway provides a platform for children and young people’s voices to be heard and responded to. Regularly consulting with children and young people through our programming and initiatives, asking what it is like being a child/young person in Medway, and how we can make Medway one of the best places in the country to grow up.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to our partners who support Child-Friendly Medway consultations and our Seeing is Believing events programme helping to capture Voice of the Child.
Lastly, thank you to the children and young people of Medway who inspire our work.
The Child-Friendly Medway team and Medway Libraries team at the World Book Day festival launch at Chatham Library
Child-Friendly Medway partnered with Medway Libraries to celebrate World Book Day with the annual flagship launch event at Chatham Library on Saturday, 28 February.
Over 500 children, families and young people joined us to take part in activities including:
- Author talks with Sam Gayton
- Creative writing workshops
- Face painting
- Craft activities
- Live animal petting zoo
Children, young people and families were overjoyed with the opportunity to meet the animals and take part in the craft activities and loved taking part in the writing workshop and listening to author Sam Gayton.
Parents/carers told us “My kids loved it. Was a great event! Thank you!”
This event supports Child-Friendly Medway’s For the Love of Reading Initiative, which aims to encourage children and young people to read. The more we can encourage parents and carers to read with their children, the more likely children and young people will be to develop a love for books and a passion for reading.
CFM Young Mayor assembly at The Academy of Woodlands for Year 5 students
Young Mayor School Assemblies
Since our Young Mayor launch in January, the CFM team have been busy delivering school assemblies across Medway. We have received lots of applications from Year 5 children for the position of Medway’s very first Young Mayor, or one of seven supporting Deputy Young Mayors.
The Young Mayor will have the important celebratory role at milestone events and will be an inspiring role model for children in Medway.
They will work alongside the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Medway at events and celebrations across the year, handing out awards and taking part in photo and speaking opportunities.
We are looking for someone who is:
- Currently in Year 5, ready to take on the role of Young Mayor or Deputy Young Mayor when they are in Year 6 (from September 2026 to August 2027).
- Confident speaking in public and representing Medway’s youngest residents.
The Child-Friendly Medway team have delivered assemblies to schools across Medway since applications opened in January, to share information and answer questions with Year 5 students.
To request an assembly for your school, or for more information, please email childfriendly@medway.gov.uk.
Applications close on Monday, 27 April. There is still time to apply - best of luck to all our amazing applicants!
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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