Getting started

As part of our Better world agenda, we decided to focus on one big social issue. So we asked our customers and employees what was important to them – and ‘communications and children’ was identified as the key issue.

Through consulting with customers and employees, the Children and Young People's Unit, and ChildLine we identified ‘listening to children’ and ‘helping children in need’ as the two areas where there was demonstrable need. Some of the key facts to emerge from that research exercise are outlined here under Facts & figures.

Then, in 2002, in consultation with ChildLine, we commissioned an independent research project into the views of young people and adults on the subject of listening to young people and giving young people a voice. The results of the ‘Are Young People Being Heard?’ research provided the foundation and impetus for this current campaign.

“It's annoying when you try to talk and they won't listen.” *

* Young person quoted from the ‘Are Young People Being Heard?’ research