About this application
The Children’s Commissioner for England is Dame Rachel de Souza. Her role is a statutory position created by the Children Act 2004. The purpose of her role is to promote and protect children’s rights in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Children’s Commissioner has heard from a million children and wants to hear from the same number again over the next year before her term ends on 1 March 2027.
The Children’s Commissioner’s Big Ambition project heard from almost 370,000 children and young people across England about what they think, what they want to see from the government and the solutions they want for themselves and the next generation.
One of the key findings was that only 22 per cent of children and young people thought that people who run the country listen to their views.
The Commissioner’s ambition is for children’s views to be at the heart of government policy so their choices and voices are reflected in the decisions that will affect them in years to come.
Dame Rachel’s previous cohorts of dynamic Youth Ambassadors, all aged 16 and 17, have been championing solutions with decision makers and ministers and amplifying what England’s young people have told her that they want.
Now, the office is excited to begin recruitment for this Commissioner’s the third and final cohort of Youth Ambassadors. This will be a particularly exciting year to be part of, as the office works to hold decision makers accountable for making the changes it has recommended over the past five years.
Being an Ambassador is a one-year voluntary programme. It will give you the chance to get in front of changemakers and policymakers, and the media, to tell people what young people think. As part of the Ambassadors Programme you will:
- Accompany the Children’s Commissioner and team to meet policymakers and Government at the heart of Whitehall. There will be a chance to make the case for issues you are passionate about.
- Share your thoughts on issues that are important to young people. You will give us important feedback on what’s important to children and young people and share the views of your peers with decision makers.
- Represent children and young people’s voices at events and meet key stakeholders. The office will include you in key moments to support your development.
- Talk to the media. You will have the chance to talk to local and national newspapers, magazines and broadcasters about the issues that you care about.
How to apply
Applicants must:
live in England
be 16 or 17 years old in April 2026
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, and what change you think is most important to improve the lives of children in England.
You will be asked to share a short video and some written answers. You can look through the questions first and come back to finish your application later.
The application 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.
Please let us know if you require any special arrangements for either the application process or taking part in the Programme by contacting us at childrens.commissioner@childrenscommissioner.gov.uk. This will not be taken into consideration as part of our decision making.
We are looking for a wide variety of people to take part in the Programme, 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 January 11th 2026.
Next steps
You will be updated on the progress of your application by early February 2026. 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.
If you are successful, you will be invited to an induction day in London with the Children’s Commissioner.
The office is unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications.
The Ambassadors Programme 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.