The Big Future: Hearing from Southampton's children

The Children’s Commissioner for England discusses the value of engaging directly with young people to understand their aspirations, moving beyond the usual focus on systemic failures. Following visits to Southampton, the Commissioner highlights how conversations with local children reveal essential insights into what support they need to thrive. This work forms part of The Big Future initiative, which aims to capture the voices of children and young people across England regarding their hopes, fears and expectations for the years ahead. For local authority cabinet members, these findings offer valuable perspective on how national policy lands in local communities and where services are meeting—or missing—children’s needs. The article underscores why meaningful youth participation must sit at the heart of service design, ensuring that strategic decisions reflect the lived experiences of those they most affect.