Launched in 2021, the initiative offers a platform for children and young people to share their views, have their voices heard, and help shape their local area. The latest annual report, covering 2025/26, highlights a busy year with over 120,000 people reached through the Seeing is Believing free event programme, which delivered 237 events supported or sponsored by the team.
Since 2021, Child-Friendly Medway has reached a total audience of 479,173 and delivered, supported, or sponsored 6,772 free events through its Seeing is Believing programme. The For the Love of Reading legacy programme has also expanded, distributing over 5,000 books to children and young people in 2025/26, bringing the total to 18,058 books since its 2022 launch.
The past year also saw the introduction of new events, including the first Baby and Toddler Week, alongside popular family events such as the Hoo Family Fun Day and Super Saturday. Child-Friendly Medway City Halls remain popular, offering young people a direct channel to Medway's leaders to discuss local issues and provide feedback. Over five years, 10 City Halls have been held with over 2,000 attendees.
Two City Halls took place in 2025/26, including an event at The Historic Dockyard Chatham's exhibition, Brickwrecks: Sunken Ships in LEGO Bricks, and another at Medway Park. Between May and December 2025, Child-Friendly Medway conducted its second major survey of children and young people, receiving around 5,000 responses to inform future decisions.
“"For five years, Child-Friendly Medway has been about listening to our children and young people and making sure their voices help shape what happens where they live. From the thousands of young people who have shared their views with us to the families attending our events and the thousands of books that have been put into children’s hands, these figures show just how far Child-Friendly Medway has come. I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved alongside our partners and communities, and I am looking forward to seeing how Child-Friendly Medway continues to grow and give our young people an even stronger voice."
