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.  

Over the last three years the Children’s Commissioner has heard from a million children and wants to hear from the same again over the next three years. 

The Children’s Commissioner’s most recent project called The Big Ambition heard from almost 370,000 children and young people across England about what they think, what they want to see and the solutions they want for themselves and the next generation. 

One of the key results from that survey was that only 20 per cent of young people feel listened to by decision makers. Dame Rachel is making it her mission to turn the dial.

She wants to see children’s views at the heart of government policy so that children and young people’s choices and voices are reflected in the decisions that will affect them in years to come. 
 
To help her with the Big Ambition Dame Rachel recruited a dynamic group of Youth Ambassadors all aged 16 and 17 who have been championing solutions with decision makers and ministers and amplifying what England’s young people have told her that they want. 
 
The Children’s Commissioner is excited to launch her second Youth Ambassadors Programme, which is a voluntary opportunity for another group of young people aged 16 and 17 to champion solutions and amplify the voices of children in England. 
 
The Programme will last one year, with the option for the Children's Commissioner to extend. It will give you the chance to get in front of changemakers and policymakers, and the media, to tell people what young people think. You will work alongside the current Ambassadors initially who will help you to learn the ropes. 

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 should: 

  • live in England  
  • be 16 or 17 years old in April 2025. 

 
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, why it’s important for young people to be listened to, 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. 
  • You can download the questions here so you can take a look before starting your applications. 
  • 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 November 24th 2025.

Next steps

  • You will be updated on the progress of your application by the end of November or early December. 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 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.