Dame Rachel de Souza's campaign, launched today (14 September), will ask children and young people about their lives and political priorities, particularly focusing on those with experience of the care system.
Children aged six to 18 can fill in the survey, and parents of children up to the age of 18 can submit responses on their child’s behalf.
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The results will be used to encourage policymakers to consider the needs of children and young people who are not old enough to vote, as the country approaches the next general election.
De Souza said: “When I talk to children and young people, they tell me how ambitious they are – for their futures, their careers, and for the economy. But too often, their voices are overlooked when it comes to decisions that will directly impact them for years to come.
“That’s why, I am launching The Big Ambition – to give children and young people a voice as we approach a general election. I want to hear what they want government to focus on, to make their lives and other children’s lives better.”
The commissioner will hear from children across the country, having already sent the survey to 22,500 schools across England. Parents of children with additional support needs or who are younger than six are also being encouraged to complete the survey.
The survey is also being sent to children and young people in children’s homes, secure children’s homes, residential special schools, hospitals, young offender institutions and hostels.
The commissioner and her team are planning to visit a range of settings, including youth work settings and the youth custody estate, in order to reach as many young people as possible.
“Children and young people are sick of being on the sidelines of political debate," de Souza said. “Now is the time for policymakers and the next government to take on board their views and make the changes children and young people want to see for their futures”
Dr Alex George, TV personality and the UK government’s youth mental health ambassador, is one of the influencers and campaigners supporting the campaign on social media.
“I want every child and young person to feel supported and listened to by the people who make decisions that affect them,” he said. “That’s why The Big Ambition is such a fantastic opportunity to hear the voices of young people on issues that they really care about - like climate change, mental health, and education.”
The campaign follows on from the commissioner’s The Big Ask survey, which consulted more than 500,000 young people on various issues, including education, the care system, mental health and wellbeing and community.
