Celebrating youth participation and engagement
21 Aug 2026 10:09 AM
Earlier this week, I reflected on why listening to children and young people must be central to the government’s plans for improving children’s lives.
Children see the world differently to adults. They don’t see the bureaucracy that can slow change – they simply see problems that need solving and ask the questions many adults have stopped asking. They are also inspired about finding creative solutions.
That is why, throughout my time as Children’s Commissioner, I have worked to make youth participation part of everything I do. Listening to children should never be a one-off consultation or a tick box exercise. It should be fundamental – it should shape research, influence policy and help drive decisions every day.
My youth engagement began on day one as Children’s Commissioner. I started with The Big Ask – more than half a million children shared their hopes, ambitions and experiences, giving me an unprecedented picture of what mattered most to them as the country emerged from the pandemic.
The conversation did not stop there.
Through The Big Ambition, I continued travelling across England to meet children in schools, youth clubs, hospitals and community organisations. Those conversations informed a series of recommendations for improving childhood today and strengthened the case for putting children’s voices at the centre of government decision making.
But national surveys are only one part of my office’s meaningful participation. Children deserve opportunities to influence decisions at any time, not just when a questionnaire lands in their classroom.
During my time as Children’s Commissioner, I have developed a participation programme to hear directly from children.
Launched in 2024, my Youth Ambassador programme brings together young people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to help shape my work and ensure the voices of children who are too often overlooked are heard nationally.
Each year since I have brought in a new cohort of Youth Ambassadors, and I was delighted to launch my third cohort of Youth Ambassadors, as I celebrated the start of my final year in role. Over the last two and a half years my Youth Ambassadors have played a vital role in sharing their views, shaping my priorities and representing the experiences of children across England.
My first cohort joined me at the inaugural Our Future, Our Voice: Festival of Childhood, where more than 150 young people took part in workshops, panel discussions and conversations with senior decision-makers about the issues that mattered most to them.
Building on that success, I launched the Youth Voices Forum, creating more opportunities for young people to contribute to my work, take part in youth groups and influence projects across government.
Listening to children also means making sure their voices shape specific pieces of policy. I have brought together young people with additional needs, including special educational needs and disabilities to contribute their views on SEND reform.
More recently, I have been working alongside Ofcom, the Government Office for Science, the Department for Education and Ofsted to make sure children’s experiences help shape future policy on some of the biggest issues facing their generation.
In creating these opportunities, I have sought to ensure the chances for children to engage are accessible. That is why I created the Youth Voices Hub, where young people can find child friendly version of my publications, find opportunities to get involved and learn about the issues affecting them.
Participation is also about making sure children know where to turn when they need support. Through Help at Hand, my team works directly with children in care, children living away from home, those with a social worker and care leavers up to the age of 25, helping them understand and exercise their rights while ensuring their voices are heard.
The work does not stop there.
Over the coming months, I will continue to promote high-quality participation with young people across government, supporting youth led projects and will publish a new best practice guide to help organisations involve children and young people in meaningful ways.
One of the greatest privileges of this role is hearing directly from children. Every conversation is the opportunity to learn something new, challenge perspectives and strengthen ways of working.
As I look forward to the coming months, I will continue to encourage government departments, public bodies and organisations across the country to put children’s voices at the centre of their work because participation is not simply about giving children a platform but about giving them the chance to influence the real world.
If we want better decisions, better services and better future, children’s voices cannot be an afterthought – they must be the starting point.