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Daily launches campaign to champion children’s rights

A regional daily has launched a campaign which aims to champion the rights of children across the city.

The Yorkshire Evening Post launched its Child Friendly Leeds initiative in partnership with Leeds City Council, in a bid to improve the lives of local youngsters and give them the best start in life.

As part of the campaign, the title is setting up a children’s panel so youngsters can say what is like to grow up in Leeds.

Schools are being urged to nominate pupils for the panel, where they will be given the chance to comment on the paper’s stories and given assignments to find out more about life in the city.

The title is also set to launch a Child Friendly Leeds page written entirely by school children.

Editor Jeremy Clifford told readers: “We want to help youngsters to have their voices heard. Their opinions should be valued and listened to.

“You are the future of Leeds and we want to give you a platform to tell those people who hold influence in our city how you would like to see it develop.”

The paper is calling on schools, colleges, children and parents to back its Child Friendly Leeds campaign and businesses are also being urged to sign a special pledge to give their assurances that they will work to improve prospects for Leeds youngsters.

Under the initiative the title’s political editor Aisha Iqbal recently visited Hamara Supplementary School in Beeston, to give youngsters a lesson in reporting, where they attended a mock murder press conference and were challenged to write their own stories.