The initiative seeks to gather first-hand insights from young people concerning their priorities, preferences and concerns, particularly around safety and accessibility on their local streets. The projects’ goals are to elevate young voices in the conversation about public spaces, identify common themes and ensure that future planning and design reflects the needs of all users.

Child Friendly Leeds said:

We’re really excited to be collaborating with CIHT on this initiative, to showcase careers in transport whilst giving children the chance to design safe places to play, hang out and have fun. This unique initiative will give children a voice in a design process that impacts their daily lives and will help transport professionals see things from a child’s perspective.

To engage students directly, the CIHT Yorkshire & Humber region rallied its network of STEM ambassadors to deliver classroom-based activities across several schools in Leeds to enable the children and young people to share their views on what they think will make their streets safer.

CIHT and Child Friendly Leeds are collating the feedback to identify common themes and will enter the children’s ideas into a “design hack session” to be delivered as part of an annual conference aimed at transportation professionals. The design hack session will raise awareness of children’s needs when designing child friendly streets and spaces. Attendees will be invited to create a concept plan of the children’s ideas, which will then be fed back to school children to allow them to see how their ideas get turned into plans.

The conference will be held on 16 September 2025 in Leeds Civic Hall.

At the Conference, you can: 

• Increase your knowledge of best practice in child friendly design.
• Understand the benefits of involving young people in design processes.
• Take part in the “design hack” session aimed to transform design ideas/briefs supplied by local school children into concept designs.
• Participate in a research project to understand how children’s ideas are understood and adapted by design professionals.
• Interactive Q&A with experts.

To find out more about the Streets and Places for Children conference, and to book a place, please click here.

Twin CIHT STEM ambassadors helping to put young voices at the heart of safer street design

One of the STEM classroom activities to gather children’s feedback was held at Thorpe Primary School, and was delivered by CIHT STEM ambassadors, twins Gracie and Evie Belwood.

Gracie and Evie are also both current apprentices on the level 3 transport planning technician apprenticeship at Leeds College of Building.

Employed by SYSTRA, Gracie and Evie are great ambassadors for both STEM and CIHT; they are always keen to get involved with CIHT activities and finding ways to inspire other young people.

Gracie Belwood said:

I chose to become a CIHT STEM ambassador to share my positive experiences of working in the sector and of undertaking the transport planning technician apprenticeship.

I am passionate about highlighting the many benefits of apprenticeships and sector roles in STEM to others.

By taking part in this initiative, I aim to give children a voice in the safer design of city spaces and streets and help them understand the wide range of roles available within the highways and transportation sector.

Evie Belwood said:

As a CIHT STEM Ambassador, I am passionate about introducing young people to the many exciting career possibilities and opportunities available within the highways and transportation sector, because it is so vital role in our everyday lives.

The Child Friendly streets / CIHT initiative will give young people an opportunity to input into the safety, accessibility and inclusion of future street design in Leeds and to start thinking about how they can further participate in the sectors future.

Thanks to John Hall, CIHT's Professional Development Officer and Ed Downer, Chair of the CIHT Yorkshire & Humber region for the chance to participate in this opportunity.

Get Involved

If you are feeling inspired and you want to get involved in these type of activities like Gracie Evie Belwood, please sign up as a CIHT STEM ambassador. This short video shows you how.

For more information

For more information about becoming a STEM ambassador, please contact CIHTs STEM team at professionaldevelopment@ciht.org.uk

CPD and STEM

All hours undertaking STEM activities is considered CPD. Don't forget to log your CPD hours on CIHT Learn and record your ambassador hours on the STEM Learning platform.