Blog

On Monday I met the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, June 2010's Young Lord Mayor, this year's Young Prime Ministers (two young women who share the role) and 12 members of Liverpool Schools' Parliament, for a discussion at the Town Hall. 

Starting with lunch, I then met 40 members of Children in Care Councils from Halton, Warrington, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley and Liverpool for a lively afternoon. They were impassioned, creative, articulate and proud. They already have, and are determined to continue having, their voices heard. Two members walked me to my hotel afterwards. I believed all of them when they said they will be leaders in adulthood. They already are, as I told their directors when I met them later. 

I went to the opening night of a festival of all that's best in performing arts in a girls' inner city comprehensive, Notre Dame Catholic College for the Arts in Everton. Watching over 150 talented young women aged 11 to 18, I was blown away by their polished, sophisticated, varied entertainment. 

The next day I visited Coventry to join 120-plus year 6 pupils, with adults and older pupils, including some from their receiving comprehensive school, to celebrate the Relate-run 'StreetPals' anti-bullying initiative. I saw the fruits of their work, and was impressed by their confidence and enthusiasm.

A busy two days in London followed, including joining Ministerial discussions with Damian Green MP, around ending detention for asylum-seeker children, examining what we should do instead. With the other three UK Commissioners I submitted a written contribution to this on Thursday. 

On Friday I addressed the Eastern Region's Directors of Children's Services conference, then listened to Under Secretary Tim Loughton's speech on the many challenges faced by all services for children and young people. On top of all that, we started to tweet! You can catch us at www.twitter.com/ChildrensComm  

By Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England