KIDS TAKEOVER LONDON’S TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY

20th November 2019 – The voices of children from the Capital’s schools are being heard today in a number of London Underground stations in special announcements to celebrate Unicef UK’s World Children’s Day – a day of action for children, by children.

The day sees their voices being seen as well as heard. In addition to writing one-off ‘Thought of the Day’ whiteboard messages, children also redesigned the iconic TfL roundels in underground and bus stations to show what makes public transport great for children in the capital.

The new artwork located at King’s Cross, Bond Street, Green Park, London Bridge and Victoria underground stations as well as West Croydon, Vauxhall and North Greenwich bus stations, portrays children’s favourite things about transport in the capital and places children right at the heart of London’s transport system.

World Children’s Day celebrates the power of children to change the world. It’s a day when we see the difference that children can make, and we hear the power of children’s voices.

This World Children’s Day is particularly special because it marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the human rights treaty that grants all children a set of rights. Unicef UK is celebrating 30 years of children’s rights and demand that every child has every right.

Staynton Brown, Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Talent, at Transport for London, said:

“We are delighted to support Unicef World Children’s Day. For many children we know transport not only sparks the imagination as well as playing an important role in their lives.  We want to open up London to every child in our city, through creating safe, sustainable and affordable public transport, and opportunities to walk, scoot and cycle. That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with Unicef on this project, celebrating children’s voices, and the role transport plays in getting them to school and connecting them with families and friends.”

Interim Executive Director at Unicef UK, Nick Roseveare, said: “We are thrilled that Transport for London has chosen to support World Children’s Day. Together, we are celebrating the power of children to change the world and providing a platform for children’s voices to be heard right across the capital. We hope this children’s takeover inspires parents all over the world to let their kids take control for the day – from simply choosing their route to school or deciding what’s for dinner. As we all know, ‘having a say’ can make a huge difference to a child.”

The children participating in this World Children’s Day celebratory activity on parts of London’s transport network are from TfL STARS and Unicef Rights Respecting Schools. TfL STARS Schools support pupils’ wellbeing, helps to reduce congestion at the school gates and improve road safety and air quality. And Unicef Rights Respecting Schools create environments where children are respected, their talents are nurtured, and they are able to thrive.

World Children’s Day is a global day of action for children, by children, that celebrates children’s rights and the power of their voices in changing our world on Wednesday 20th November.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Download images of the children’s takeover here.

For more information please contact:

Jack Everett,  [email protected], +44 (0)20 7375 6259

About Unicef

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children.  As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK. For more information please visit unicef.org.uk

About the Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award

Unicef works with schools in the UK to create safe and inspiring places to learn, where children are respected, their talents are nurtured and they are able to thrive. Our Rights Respecting Schools Award embeds these values in daily school life and gives children the best chance to lead happy, healthy lives and to be responsible, active citizens. Using the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as our guide, we are working with more UK schools than almost any other organisation. 1.6million children in the UK go to a Rights Respecting School and more than 5000 schools up and down the country are working towards the Award.

About TfL STARS Schools

Transport for London’s STARS (Sustainable Travel: Active, Responsible, Safe) schools programme: TfL supports primary and secondary schools with school travel plan activities that help young people and the whole school community adopt safer and more active travel behaviour – particularly reducing car use, increasing walking and cycling and using public transport. STARS is now in its thirteenth year, and accreditation to STARS has grown from 180 schools in 2007 to 1356 in 2019

London schools redesigning roundels for World Children’s Day  

• Bond Street – Nelson Primary School, Richmond upon Thames
• Green Park – Goose Green Primary School, Southwark
• Holborn – Nelson Primary School, Richmond upon Thames
• Kings Cross – Star Primary School, Newham
• London Bridge – Globe Primary School, Tower Hamlets
• Victoria – Courtland School Academy, Barnet
• North Greenwich bus station – Churchfields Junior School, Redbridge
• Vauxhall bus station – St James’s Catholic Primary School, Richmond upon Thames
• West Croydon bus station – Cheam Park Farm Primary Academy, Sutton