Our priorities 26/27
In 2025, thousands of Coventry children and young people gave their views on what it is like living and growing up in Coventry in the Coventry One Big Voice survey completed in their schools. This feedback was collated and analysed and has directly informed the Child Friendly Cov priorities for 2026/27 which you can find below.
Improve children's emotional wellbeing: Support children and young people to be happier, more resilient and emotionally healthy, recognising that those who experience lower wellbeing often face multiple, overlapping challenges across areas such as healthy behaviours, safety and access to support.
Make support easier to find and access: Ensure every child and young person knows where to go for help, particularly for mental health and emotional wellbeing, recognising that those who may need support most are often the least likely to know where to find it.
Help every child start the day well: Increase opportunities for children and young people to be physically active and develop healthy daily habits, recognising the strong links between physical activity, wellbeing and overall health.
Encourage healthy, active lifestyles: Support children and young people to develop healthy routines, including eating breakfast regularly, recognising the link between breakfast habits, wellbeing, readiness to learn and wider healthy behaviours.
Help children stay safe online: Build confidence to recognise online risks, understand online bullying and safely navigate digital spaces, ensuring they have the knowledge and support to manage online experiences from an early age.
Improve safety in public spaces and transport: Work with partners to help children and young people feel safer across Coventry, particularly in the city centre and when travelling, recognising that experiences of safety are not equal for all groups.
Help every child feel connected to their community: Build stronger neighbourhoods where children and young people feel safe, welcome, included and able to develop friendships, take part in activities and build positive relationships close to home.
Create more opportunities for children and young people: Develop opportunities, activities and spaces where children and young people can learn, grow, have fun and build confidence, recognising that opportunities are shaped by both access to activities and the ability to participate.
Support children and young people to shape the future of Coventry: Embed meaningful opportunities for children and young people to influence decisions, policies and services that affect their lives, ensuring their voices help shape the future of the city, in issues that matter to them such as school environments, technology and wellbeing.
Reduce inequalities by focusing on those facing multiple challenges: Work collaboratively across the city to identify and support children and young people experiencing the greatest barriers, recognising that challenges often overlap and can impact wellbeing, safety, belonging and opportunities.