How can we design healthier spaces for children in Belfast?
We heard from Charlene Brooks, CEO at Belfast Healthy Cities about the topic following their recent round-table event at Stormont.
Earlier this month, Belfast Healthy Cities had the privilege of hosting our Designing Healthier Spaces for Children round-table event at the Long Gallery, Stormont. And the voices I think we all heard loudest on the day weren't from politicians, but this time from school-children.
Like them, I also want to see a Belfast that puts children front and centre. A city where their views shape the places they live, learn and play. This event was about exactly that - showcasing how we can embed children’s rights, creativity, and insight into urban design and policy.
We were delighted to have Robbie Butler MLA, Chair of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, open the event. Robbie reminded us how central the environment, climate and green spaces are to children’s health and wellbeing. It was wonderful to hear pupils talk about the real actions they’ve taken in their schools from planting trees, creating biodiversity habitats, and designing outdoor learning areas. As one of the School Charters presented on the day beautifully stated: “Every child has the right to nature and clean air.”
Michelle Guy MLA, from the Education Committee, joined us to hear how our Healthy Places, Healthy Children programme connects learning in the classroom with real-life understanding of health, place and environment. The programme has helped pupils see that they have a voice and that their ideas can shape real change. Their Charters called for cleaner air, greener spaces, safer streets and more say in local decisions. Their message was clear; schools are catalysts for change.
We were also very pleased to have Chris Quinn, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People, reinforce that message by highlighting the right of children to influence decisions that affect them. A particularly powerful moment was when the children presented their Charters directly to MLAs, government departments and policymakers - evidence of what genuine participation looks like.
Our speakers reminded us that Belfast’s efforts are part of a much bigger picture. Dr Yakup Gözderesi, WHO Youth Representative, and Dr James Hennessey from the Paul Hogarth Company, and Dr Niamh O'Kane from QUB shared global insights on child-centred design and participation, emphasising that young people must be at the heart of planning, not an afterthought.
We heard stories of pupils transforming school grounds into greener, more inclusive spaces that support physical activity, mental health, biodiversity and social connection. Teachers told us how “empowering” the process was, helping children to “see the bigger picture, beyond their local environment.”
I am deeply grateful to all our partners, funders, and the incredible pupils from Knockmore Primary School and Holy Cross Girls’ Primary School, whose enthusiasm reminded us why this work matters.
Belfast’s future will only be as healthy as the environments we create for our youngest citizens and that begins by listening to them.
Find out more about our work at www.belfasthealthycities.com