Dame Rachel de Souza launched a new survey on children’s lives during a visit to a family hub in Little Harwood, Blackburn with Darwen, where she was welcomed by parents, staff and children. The Children’s Commissioner toured the hub, spoke with staff about the services they provide in the ward and saw first-hand how the centre supports families.

The visit marked the launch of The Big Future survey, which is intended to build on The Big Ask in 2021, when more than half a million responses were collected, and The Big Ambition in 2024. The new survey is seeking views on how to improve children’s lives, the challenges facing the future of childhood and democratic engagement, placing children’s experiences at the centre of a fresh round of national listening.

During the visit, the hub’s work was on display in practical terms. Services included infant feeding support groups, stay-and-play sessions, toileting workshops, two-year development checks, midwifery appointments, smoking cessation support and family help multi-disciplinary team meetings. Children also explored the theme of what makes them happy in their world, and prepared cards for Dame Rachel about what they would like to see in their future.

Councillor Julie Gunn attended the visit and said it was a pleasure to meet the Children’s Commissioner and share the work of children’s services in Blackburn with Darwen. She said she was proud of the response from high-profile visitors who see the commitment in the borough to helping every child and young person fulfil their potential, and described the family hubs as crucial in helping children become school-ready.

The Little Harwood centre is one of the Best Start Family Hubs in Blackburn with Darwen, alongside hubs in Darwen, Livesey and Shadsworth. Those sites are part of an integrated family service model that brings together health, education, early years and wider support under one roof, giving parents a single place to turn when they need help.

The day also included a visit to Blackburn Youth Zone, extending the commissioner’s stop in the borough beyond the family hub setting. For de Souza, the message from Blackburn with Darwen was not just about what services exist now, but about how local families and children should shape what comes next. The launch of The Big Future gives that conversation a national platform, with the commissioner now asking children and young people to spell out what they want childhood to look like next.