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Last week I attended useful meetings with adults who work with and shape public opinion about children and young people. 

I met the President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to explore how we can go on working together on children's health issues. Then the Chair of the Criminal Bar Association to talk about young people in trouble with the law and how we should deal with them. Afterwards the Local Government Ombudsman who deals with a range of complaints about services. 

I was interviewed by Tyne Tees TV for 'Round the House' as I live in that region;  the British Association of Social Worker's national magazine, 'Professional Social Work';  the Guardian's Education Correspondent, and the Chief Feature Writer on the 'Yorkshire Post', from my home county. 

I spoke in Manchester at a seminar for Councils' cabinet members for children and young people, for the LGA's Local Government Improvement and Development team (formerly IDeA) and in Leeds for the annual conference of the inspectors' advisers' and consultants' body, ASPECT. 

And in the middle of the week, surrounded by my family, I was awarded the very great honour - to me, still a surprise! - of an Honorary Doctorate by Northumbria University.  We joined hundreds of young graduates in their celebration of a wonderful day.  Meanwhile, we continue to lead on the children's voice for the Munro Review and the Family Justice Review, and are contributing materials for our own review, led by Dr John Dunford for the Secretary of State. I urge you to contribute to all three!

By Maggie Atkinson, Children's Commissioner for England