Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) hosted Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza for an exclusive roundtable discussion with young men participating in the university’s pioneering, award-winning Being a Boy project.
The visit on Monday 20 July marked a major milestone for the initiative, which uses creative subjects ranging from special effects makeup and fashion styling to film, dance and creative writing as a platform for young men aged 12–16 from underrepresented backgrounds to reflect on masculinity, identity, and lived experience.
Following an introduction at AUB’s House of Commons exhibition earlier this year, the Children’s Commissioner’s Office (CCO) specifically sought out AUB’s participants to capture their unique perspectives for The Big Future Survey, a major national inquiry into what young people want their futures to look like.
During the visit, Dame Rachel and her team joined the young men in the boardroom at University House, AUB Campus, for an informal roundtable Q+A, before meeting with Vice-Chancellor and CEO Lisa Mann to discuss how creative higher education can support youth outcome strategies and regional social mobility. The participants also took part in an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) workshop at AUB’s state-of-the-art Innovation Studio.
“We were thrilled to welcome Dame Rachel de Souza to Arts University Bournemouth to highlight the brilliant creative work being done through the Being a Boy project," says Lisa.
“The Being a Boy project champions the voices of young men, they are the experts on their masculinity and identity, and this visit provided a space for the young men to share their stories to create change. The young men spoke brilliantly and we’re very proud of them for sharing what they want to see for young men in the future.”
Launched in 2022, Being a Boy has gained national sector recognition as an exemplar of best practice in widening participation, securing accolades including two HELOA Best Practice Awards and a Silver HEIST Award.
By pairing creative exploration with open dialogue, the project addresses critical attainment and progression gaps, offering young working-class men, care leavers, young carers, and those from areas with low progression into higher education a safe, empowering space to shape their futures.
Dame Rachel comments, “Childhood is changing rapidly. Mental health referrals have increased dramatically, more children are spending long periods of time online, and growing numbers require additional support in schools.
“The new government has an opportunity to deliver change for young people. The decisions they make in the coming months and years will shape what it’s like to grow up in England for years to come.
“We need to listen to children about their lives to understand the issues they face. We need to ask them what they want and act on it. I want as many young people as possible across Bournemouth to share their experiences so decision makers will sit up and take notice. Children are brimming with brilliant ideas about how to improve their communities. If we want to build a better future, we need to take their ideas seriously and act on what they tell us.”
The Commissioner's stop at AUB is part of a nationwide tour spanning from Cumbria to Cornwall, gathering insights on key issues such as local opportunity, social media, and outdoor activities.
During her local visit, Dame Rachel also stopped at Winton Recreation Ground alongside the Dorset Children’s Foundation to discuss accessible play for disabled children, she joined the AFC Bournemouth Impairment Football Group to learn about the positive impacts of team sports on young players.
She also travelled to Brownsea Island with the 1st Parkstone Scout Group for woodland activities and a discussion on children’s priorities for the new government.
The Big Future Survey is open to all children aged 0–18 in England until Friday 23 October. Adults can respond on behalf of children. The views Dame Rachel gathers from Bournemouth, as well as other visits across England, will be shared with politicians as they grapple with the challenges facing young people.
The survey, which will be sent to all schools and colleges in England, is also available online.
