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The Big Conversation: The Children's Commissioner's Podcast

The Big Conversation: The Children's Commissioner's Podcast

Children's Commissioner 15 Episodes Sep 4, 2026

The Big Conversation: The Children's Commissioner's Podcast shares the voices and views of England's children. The Children's Commissioner and her 16 Youth Ambassadors interview decision makers and speak truth to power about issues affecting young people. The show draws on themes from The Big Ambition and focuses on the most important issues impacting young people's lives. Solutions discussed are developed with children from across England, giving listeners a direct sense of what young people really think.

Episodes

The future of children’s TV and edutainment: BBC commissioning, social media content and youth voices  - Melissa Harding, Big Manny
The future of children’s TV and edutainment: BBC commissioning, social media content and youth voices - Melissa Harding, Big Manny Sep 4, 2026 40:34 In Episode 15, Children’s Commissioner Youth Ambassadors, Penelope, Anna, Arianne, Fasanya, Sebastian and Temi speak to BBC Commissioning Editor, Melissa Harding, and Content Creator, Big Manny, about the children’s media landscape, edutainment – from Horrible Histories to science explainer videos, and the future of children’s TV. Tell the Children's Commissioner what it’s like to be a c
“Nothing about us without us”, youth voice in educational reform - Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards
“Nothing about us without us”, youth voice in educational reform - Georgia Gould, Minister for School Standards May 1, 2026 49:51 In Episode 14, the Children's Commissioner and Youth Ambassadors, Annabel, Ben, Emma, Finlay and Valerie, speak to Minister Gould, Minister of State (Minister for School Standards). The Ambassadors share their own personal experiences with education, particularly around additional needs including special educational needs, disabilities, young carer responsibilities, mental health struggles and dis
Growing up online: The good, the bad and the potential ban  - Lord Nash, Fabio D'Andrea
Growing up online: The good, the bad and the potential ban - Lord Nash, Fabio D'Andrea Jan 22, 2026 48:43 In Episode 13, Youth Ambassadors, Annabel, Anthony, Ariana, Valerie, Violet and Yusuf, speak to Lord Nash and Fabio D'Andrea about the positives and negatives of smartphones and social media and how children can be supported and safe online.Lord Nash has proposed in Parliament that social media be banned for children under 16 because of the evidence showing its impact on their mental health and we
Educating children through long-term illness - Josh Pelled, CEO, Bright Futures UK
Educating children through long-term illness - Josh Pelled, CEO, Bright Futures UK Oct 3, 2025 36:41 In Episode 12, Youth Ambassadors, Annabel & Rosanna, speak to Josh Pelled, Founder & CEO of Bright Futures UK, about what children need to stay connected to their education when they're away from school due to long-term illness and the problems with the support system and communication between services.Bright Futures UK is the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting young people age
'Children are attacking children' - Martin Griffiths, Trauma Surgeon & Clinical Director Violence Reduction
'Children are attacking children' - Martin Griffiths, Trauma Surgeon & Clinical Director Violence Reduction Aug 22, 2025 39:24 In Episode 11, Youth Ambassadors, Aaliya, Penelope & Emmanuel, speak to Professor Martin Griffiths, Trauma Surgeon & Clinical Director Violence Reduction, about the changing nature of youth violence and the need to design services that reflect young people’s experiences. Content warning: topics discussed include knife crime, masculinity, relationships, non-fatal strangulation and exte
Ali Oliver, CEO, Youth Sport Trust
Ali Oliver, CEO, Youth Sport Trust Jun 19, 2025 55:21 In Episode 10, Youth Ambassadors, Annabel & Chan, speak to Ali Oliver, CEO, Youth Sport Trust, and Molly who's sits on their Youth Board, about the transformative power of sport, the barriers preventing young people participating and what needs to be done to make sport more inclusive and accessible to all.Tell the Children's Commissioner what it’s like growing up in England, your hopes and amb
Jon Yates, Executive Director, Youth Endowment Fund
Jon Yates, Executive Director, Youth Endowment Fund May 21, 2025 48:33 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. In Episode 9, my Youth Ambassadors Emmanuel, Penelope and Aaliya, speak to Jon Yates, Executive Director of the Youth Endowment Fund about young people's safety, youth crime and violence, focussed deterrence, social dyn
Special Episode: Facing the Future, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion
Special Episode: Facing the Future, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion Apr 16, 2025 50:03 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. Episode 8 is slightly different to other episodes in the series as it shares a panel discussion, Facing the Future: shoring up the foundations through the teenage years, that was part of the Children’s Commissioner’s Ou
Special Episode: Building the Foundations, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion
Special Episode: Building the Foundations, Festival of Childhood Panel Discussion Apr 16, 2025 47:18 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. Episode 7 is slightly different to other episodes in the series as it shares a panel discussion, Building the Foundations: the early years as a foundation for childhood, that was part of the Children’s Commissioner’s Ou
Mina Gerhardsen, Norwegian Ombudsperson for Children
Mina Gerhardsen, Norwegian Ombudsperson for Children Mar 20, 2025 27:45 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. In Episode 6, my Youth Ambassadors Aaliya, Emmanuel and Penelope, speak to Mina Gerhardsen, Norwegian Ombudsperson for Children about child happiness, support in the early years, prioritising children and their rights a
Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding
Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding Feb 20, 2025 24:54 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children. In Episode 5, my Youth Ambassadors, Aaliya and Tamar, speak to Angela Salt, CEO, Girlguiding about the importance of World Thinking Day to Girl Guides across the world, the history behind Girlguiding, the ongoing fight
Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester
Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester Jan 30, 2025 44:55 The Big Conversation: In conversation with the Children's Commissioner and her youth Ambassadors is my podcast series where I share the voices and views of England’s children.In Episode 4 my Youth Ambassadors, Tamar, Emmanuel and Zara speak to Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester and Anglican Bishop for HM Prisons in England and Wales, about young people's involvement in the 2024 riots, community

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