Kingston Council Reconsiders Child Friendly City Status Due to Cost

27 September 2025

Kingston upon Thames Council is reassessing its commitment to the Unicef Child Friendly Cities and Communities status due to significant cost implications, the People Committee heard on Tuesday. The council's approved budget to deliver children's services in 2024-25 was £45.68 million, and the Unicef program would cost an estimated £35,000 per year for at least three years.

At a meeting of the People Committee on 23 September 2025, councillors agreed to explore alternative approaches to ensure value for money and alignment with other borough-wide inclusion strategies before deciding whether to commit to the Unicef programme. The committee had previously endorsed the ambition to achieve Unicef Child Friendly Cities and Communities status at a meeting in September 2024.

The Unicef initiative, while initially supported, has been found to have a significant cost, estimated at approximately £35,000 per year for a minimum of three years, according to the Children and Young People's Plan Update.

The council is already involved in other initiatives that promote inclusivity, such as Breast Feeding and City of Sanctuary. An options appraisal will be developed in Quarter 3 2025/6 to assess how existing models and alternative approaches can ensure Kingston is an inclusive community for children and young people. The options appraisal is expected to be completed in Quarter 3 2025/6, after which a final decision regarding the Unicef program will be made.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the People Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council on 23 September 2025

People Involved

Councillor Emily Davey Portfolio Holder for Housing & Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor Sabah Hamed Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Equalities and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Diane White Portfolio Holder for Children's Services (including Education) and Co-Chair - People Committee • Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Minority Opposition Group • Conservative • Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Helen Grocott Liberal Democrat • King George's and Sunray Ward

Councillor Robert Dongsung Kim Liberal Democrat • New Malden Village Ward

Councillor Anne Owen Liberal Democrat • Kingston Gate Ward

Councillor Tom Reeve Chair - Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee • Liberal Democrat • Surbiton Hill Ward

Councillor Andrew Sillett Chair - Licensing Committee • Liberal Democrat • Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Susan Skipwith Liberal Democrat • Norbiton Ward

Councillor John Sweeney Liberal Democrat • Kingston Town Ward

Councillor Yvonne Tracey Opposition Spokesperson for Social Care (including Education), Public Health and Equalities • Kingston Independent Residents Group • Green Lane and St James Ward

Councillor Yogan Yoganathan Liberal Democrat • St. Mark's and Seething Wells Ward

Rachel Phillips

Topics

Kingston Council Unicef Children and Young People's Plan Update Unicef Child Friendly Cities and Communities Inclusivity