Help Shape the Future of Childhood

Everyone should be able to have a childhood that is filled with joy and love with the opportunities to excel, attain and achieve.  

To ensure that every child gets the best opportunities to succeed, the Government wants to better understand how childhood is changing. 

The Children’s Commissioner is looking to recruit an advisory board of young people who are aged 14 to 18 to inform a project by the Government Office for Science called The Future of Childhood. You can find out more about it here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-childhood-and-adolescence

The Government wants to hear first hand from young people about how childhood (from 0 to 18 years) is changing. 

They want to hear what you think is bringing the biggest changes – whether that’s AI or social media; climate change or the cost of living or any other issue impacting the under 18s. They also want to hear what you think needs to change to make children's lives better in the future.

The Children’s Commissioner’s Office will run the Future of Childhood Youth Advisory Group and is looking for up to 16 children from across England with a wide range of experience – whoever you are and wherever you live, we want to hear from you.  

For this group we are recruiting young people from across England, but the project covers childhood across the UK, and the Government Office for Science team will be talking to children and young people from the other nations of the UK too.

As part of the group you’ll have the chance to share your ideas on issues that matter most to you now and issues that you think will impact children and young people in the future for example mental health, education, social media, climate change and more. We want to hear about how we can make life better for young people.

As part of this Advisory Group you will: 

- Have an introductory in person meeting in London (in November)
- Meet on a monthly basis for 12 months, mainly online, with the other young people on the advisory group
- Help the Government Office for Science understand the changing shape of childhood
- Help shape policy advice to improve children’s lives in the future 

Who can apply 
 
Applicants should: 

  • live in England  
  • be 14 to 18 years old. 

How to apply 
 

In this application form: 

  • We will ask you to tell us a little bit about yourself including some questions about who you are, what you’re passionate about, what you think are the biggest issues facing children in the UK today and in the future, and what change you think is most important to improve the lives of children in the UK.
  • You will be asked to share a short video and two written answers. You can look through the questions first and come back to finish your application later.
  • You can download the questions here so you can take a look before starting your applications.
  • You can spend as much time as you need on the application but we think it should take around 15-20 minutes to complete, plus the time to record a short video.
  • Once you have completed the form, you will be able to print or download a copy of your answers for your records. You will be prompted to do this at the end of the form.
  • We want everyone to be able to apply. If you require any help or special arrangements during this application process or if you are selected for the programme please let us know by contacting us at childrens.commissioner@childrenscommissioner.gov.uk.This will not impact our decision making.
  • We are looking for a wide variety of people to be part of the advisory group, however we particularly welcome applications from young people with lived experience of the care or health system, those with a disability or additional learning need and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.  


Please complete this application form by 23:59 on Sunday 12th October 2025. 

Next steps

  • You will be updated on the progress of your application by early November. If we receive a high volume of applicants, we may ask you to meet with a member of the team to further discuss your application in a short informal interview. 
  • The office is unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. 
  • The Government Office for Science Advisory Group is undertaken on a voluntary, unpaid basis, and you will not be considered as an employee of the Children’s Commissioner’s office at any time. However, we will cover your expenses, including travel for the duration of the programme. 

 
Please see our privacy policy for how the Children’s Commissioner manages sensitive data. 
 
If you need this application in an alternative format, or have any other questions about this opportunity or how to complete the form, please contact us at childrens.commissioner@childrenscommissioner.gov.uk.