A big ambition for children

Every day I speak to children and young people who have bright ideas, high hopes for their future, and who care deeply about their peers. They also tell me they want decision makers to listen to what they think about the issues that directly impact them. 

I want to listen, and then I will share their views and opinions with policymakers and politicians across Whitehall, so they think about children’s needs when they make decisions. 

The Big Ambition survey will be asking what young people enjoy about their schools, communities, family life and the wider world. It will also be asking what they want for the future, their hopes, dreams and aspirations.   

When I have been talking to young people about this campaign, they have been telling how ambitious they are for their futures and how much they want to achieve. They have also been telling me what would make their lives better.  

They want libraries locally, youth clubs and sport facilities. They also speak about looking after their well-being, and how they can be supported to look after their mental health. 

After so much disruption to their lives over the last few years I believe that this is a pivotal moment for politicians to put young people at the heart of decision making. To really reflect on those young people might need.  

Young people often feel side-lined in the public debate but let’s focus on how very impressive the next generation are. They deserve to be listened to and respected. They could help us transform the post Covid political landscape.  

As children’s commissioner, it is my duty to promote and protect the rights of all children, especially those children living away from home, in children’s homes, secure children’s homes, young offender institutions, or residential special schools.   

That is why I am launching this survey, which is for all children aged 6-18 and parents of children aged 0-18 to capture the voices of all children in England.  

I will be sending it out to almost 23,000 schools as well as to children and young people in residential care homes, hospitals, young offender institutes as well as hostels.   

Over the next few months my team and I will be travelling from Exeter in the south-west to Scunthorpe in the north-east and everywhere in between. We will be visiting schools, colleges, children's homes, secure children's homes, residential special schools, hospitals, young offender institutes as well as hostels, youth clubs and many other locations to ensure she reaches the widest group of young people as possible. 

After the survey closes in December, we will collate the responses and I hope The Big Ambition will provide a comprehensive picture of the practical changes that children want.  

I will then take their voices directly to policymakers and politicians, to ensure that what they need and want is reflected in the decisions that that will affect them now and in years to come. Our children deserving nothing less.  

Dame Rachel de Souza is children’s commissioner for England.