Meet Our Champions

As part of our journey to gain UNICEF UK Child Friendly Borough accreditation, The Child Friendly Redbridge Partnership has identified Champions to act as powerful advocates for the rights and voice of children and young people in the borough.

The Child Friendly Champions are a diverse group comprised of committed individuals from across public services, the voluntary and community centre, frontline staff, educational institutions, and including young people themselves.

The role of the Child Friendly Redbridge Champions includes:

• Use their influence to make sure that children’s voices are heard in decision-making
• Raise the profile of the Child Friendly Redbridge programme
• Create opportunities and platforms for children and young people to advocate for themselves where possible
• Challenge the Child Friendly Redbridge Partnership on how well we are delivering the programme and advocating for the voice and rights of young people

 

Our Child Friendly Redbridge Champions

Councillor Kam Rai 

Cllr Rai has been involved in the Child Friendly programme from the very beginning. He supports the programme and believes that achieving UNICEF Child Friendly Community status for Redbridge is a key milestone in Redbridge’s mission for local communities to be places in which children and young people, regardless of their background, thrive.

"For many years, local authorities, including Redbridge Council, have consulted with adults on new projects and changes to existing policies. These consultations have determined the future of our green spaces, our town centres, our homes and all the services we provide to the most vulnerable in our community. Having grown up in this borough, I've seen firsthand how Redbridge has evolved over the decades. The parks where I once played are the same ones where my children have created their own memories.

"We are proud that Redbridge is firmly on the map as a great place for families to come for exciting days out, and to enjoy our outstanding forest, Green Flag parks, lakes and more, right here in London. Children have an excellent education in our borough and 96% schools in Redbridge are rated Good or Outstanding. Our Children's Services department is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in every criterion. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and efforts of our social workers and everyone working in our Children's Services teams.

"We knew we needed to do more to bring our young people into the fold, to hear what they have to say, and to make sure that when we're building and developing our borough, that Redbridge grows as a place that works for children. As a parent, my wife and I have raised our family here, I understand that truly listening to children isn't just about asking their opinion once – it's about creating ongoing dialogue and meaningful involvement. When my own children point out things they wish were different about their local playground or school journey, it reminds me how valuable these perspectives are for creating a borough that serves everyone.

"Five years ago, Redbridge embarked on a long-term programme to ensure that children are listened to. We've been building a Redbridge that values the opinions of our young people, and that recognises the importance of making meaningful change in a way that supports our children, allows them to flourish, and where children's rights are placed at the heart of everything that happens in the borough. This greater focus on listening to children means real, tangible changes: designing play spaces that children have helped plan, creating safer routes to school based on children's experiences, and developing youth services that truly meet their needs. It means our children feel valued, heard, and empowered to shape their community.

"This has been an enormous challenge, but one Redbridge Council's services, decision-making members, and indeed many partner organisations across the borough, have joined together to take head-on. We are working towards being recognised by UNICEF UK as a child friendly borough, which will give us great validation for our and our partners' commitment to upholding children's rights. We are making sure children's rights are protected across every part of life, especially for those who are some of our most vulnerable citizens.

"What matters most to me isn't just the UNICEF recognition, but creating a Redbridge where my children, your children, and all young people feel they truly belong and have a voice that matters. That's the legacy I want us to build together."

Councillor Lloyd Duddridge

I am lucky enough to be the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools. I have lived in the borough my whole life and went to school at Churchfields and at King Solomon. I was first elected in 2016 in a by election in a seat that Labour has never won before. I am an avid fan of Woodford Town Football club and follow them both home and away. You will very rarely find me without a book, my favourite novel is Zorba the Greek, and my favourite work of Philosophy is William James’s Pragmatism. Redbridge has always been a borough with one eye on the future, our schools have always been part of our we are, and places we are proud of. Our work with UNICEF formalises this commitment, it reminds us that all our work should be child focused, and that it is a politician’s duty to future proof this borough. To be the first borough in England to have the accreditation would be a point of pride for us all.

 

Dr Stephen Addison BEM, Founder of Box Up Crime

Stephen Addison launched Box Up Crime in 2013. Having experienced the huge loss of valued friends to gang violence and crime, Stephen was inspired to create an organisation that would address the social issues affecting young people vulnerable to crime, and provide viable and positive alternative futures. Stephen is passionate about creating positive and supportive environments for children. This role allows him to advocate for their rights, promote inclusion, and help ensure they have access to the opportunities they deserve. As part of the programme, he has learned how important it is to listen to children's voices and empower them to take part in decision-making that impacts their lives. He has also been involved in projects that promote safe spaces for children to express themselves and develop. 

 

Dr Keith J White, Director Mill Grove

Dr Keith J. White has lived alongside children nearly all his life in the residential community called Mill Grove. Whenever possible he engages with them in exploring the natural world through play, especially mountaineering, swimming and sailing. As a writer and lecturer he has spent much of the past 25 years learning about cross-cultural forms of education and childcare around the world. He was one of the first in Redbridge to call for the borough to seek to become child friendly. In November 2005 he identified ten stages on the way to achieving this. Among his books are, The Growth of Love; Children and Social Exclusion; and Let the Earth Hear Her Voice, The Life and Work of Pandita Ramabai, based on his PhD. He is a regular contributor to the Therapeutic Care Journal.

Lesley Perry, Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership Manager

Lesley has managed the Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership for the past 7 years and is committed to supporting agencies that work with children and young people in Redbridge to do the best they can to safeguard all that they come into contact with. Part of that though is ensuring that the voice of young people is heard clearly and that their rights are respected. That is where the UNICEF child friendly programme comes in! As someone that grew up in Redbridge, and has spent a considerable amount of her working life in the Borough, Lesley is keen to see the development progressing and will work to ensure that the key messages are communicated across a wide range of networks. Safeguarding and safety is the bottom line and raising the profile of the work of the child friendly programme will support this.

Irfan Shah, Chief Executive Officer and Lead Youth Worker Frenford Clubs

Irfan has resided in Redbridge for over 42 years and works for a charity youth club based in the Borough since 1928. Frenford Youth Club sees over 4000 young people annually and is one of the only youth clubs in the country open 7 days a week from 9am-10pm. As CEO, he oversees all aspects of the running of the charity from youth work, facility management, staffing, and income generation.

Irfan has a BA Hons in Youth and Community Education and has been working within youth work for
over 17 years. He is a co-founder of the Frenford & Mutual Aid Redbridge Foodbank as well being a Trustee of Wanstead Youth Club for children with disabilities and is part of other voluntary organisations in many capacities. Finally Irfan works closely with local partners including the police around knife crime and bringing young people out of the cusp of crime and deterring them from re-offending. Irfan's passion is to create opportunities, support in personal development and particularly focused on accessible and safe spaces for young people.