The Big Conversation
Each year, the Youth Commission speak to young people across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton to get their concerns, views and ideas.
The Big Conversation 2024 in now open!
Each year we consult those aged 14-25 on our priorities. This year we want to hear your thoughts, experiences and solutions to tackle Substance Misuse, Dangerous Driving and Stereotyping Young People. Alternatively you could tell us about something else.
Take part in the Big Conversation here!
Each year we consult those aged 14-25 on our priorities. This year we want to hear your thoughts, experiences and solutions to tackle Substance Misuse, Dangerous Driving and Stereotyping Young People. Alternatively you could tell us about something else.
We read every response and collate them into recommendations that are presented to decision makers, such as the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable, at our Recommendations Conference each year.
Take part in the Big Conversation here!Previous Big Conversations
During 2023 we looked at: Safe on The Streets, Domestic Abuse and Relationships With the Police. The Results of The Big Conversations were announced in February 2024 at our recommendations conference.
Out of over 900 responses:
- 55% told us the Safe on the Streets was their top priority
- 25% said Domestic Abuse concerned them
- 15% chose Relationships With The Police
- and 5% had a different concern
1,614 Big Conversation responses;
62% Safe on the Streets
20% Hate and hostility
15% Substance misuse
3% Something Else
Breakdown of young people by age:
| All specified age | 1532 |
| 13-14 | 231 |
| 15-16 | 453 |
| 17-18 | 553 |
| 19-20 | 172 |
| 20+ | 123 |
| Not specified | 82 |
| Total | 1614 |
During 2020-2021 we looked at: exploitation, hate crime, and serious violence.
The results of the Big Conversation were announced at the end of November at our recommendations conference.
- 40% told us hate crime was their top concern
- 30% said it was serious violence
- 23% told us they were most worried about exploitation
- and 7% had a different concern.
In 2020-2021, we spoke to 2,042 young people about their concerns and our priorities. This chart shows who took part:
With the thousands of responses we receive, we make recommendations to decision makers who can make positive changes for our future. In previous years we recommended a Cyber Ambassador scheme after you told us it was important. The Cyber Ambassador scheme is now in over 140 schools and colleges!
In 2020, we spoke to 1,054 young people about their concerns and our priorities. Here’s how we did:
- 37% told us hate crime was their top concern
- 32% said it was serious violence
- 22% told us they were most worried about exploitation
- and 9% had a different concern.
We spoke to 2,645 young people about their concerns and our priorities. Here’s how we did:
- 35% told us substance misuse was their top concern
- 29% said it was unhealthy relationships
- 25% told us they were most worried about anti-social behaviour
- and 11% had a different concern.
- Our 35 members helped run and attend 87 events across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, in total volunteering 820 hours of their time.
- We worked with 39 different partners, and 78 people attended our recommendations conference and pledged to help us deliver them.