How to have your say

Sometimes it can feel like nobody cares what children think but lots of adults – including the Mayor – do want to hear your ideas. Sometimes you can really make a difference. More and more adults want to know what children think about living in London and this is your chance to tell them!

There are lots of ways that you can have your say. You can join your school council or a local children's forum. Lots of children's groups will organise events for children to say what they think or you might just decide to write to the Mayor using this website and tell us your views!

In school

Fed up of school dinners? Want to make your school playground more fun? Most primary schools have got a school council and it is up to you to make it a good one! School councils don't have to just talk about how smelly the school toilets are (although it is easy to do if they really do pong!!) Your school council can do much, much more. Why not set up a lunchtime club or do a fundraising event for a charity?

Talk to your friends and teachers and get the ideas rolling. Don't forget to let us know what exciting things you get up to.

In London

Who said that children should be seen and not heard? We want you to make loads of noise about things you care about in London. We know that a London that is good to grow up in is a London where children can get involved and help make the city better.

So let us know your ideas about how to make London better. Email or write in and tell the Mayor what you think about growing up in London. You might want to talk about some of the things in the issue zone.

To the Mayor

In 2004, the former Mayor, Ken Livingstone, asked children to send in their ideas for what they would like to see in London. Over 1,000 children and young people sent in ideas and told us what they wanted to see in the Mayor's Children and Young People’s Strategy. This is called, ‘Making London better for all children and young people’.

Here is a list of some of the things you asked for and what is being done to make sure you get what you wanted:

More safe places to play

• Money and ideas have been given to create 'home zones' in many parts of London – this means making streets and neighbourhoods safer places for kids to play in
• We have organised big Londonwide events, and supported local events in your local areas, to celebrate national Playday every August
• The Mayor has written a guide for all London councils about making good playgrounds and spaces locally

Cheaper and safer transport

• The Mayor has made all London buses and trams free for under-18s who are in full-time education
• Transport for London provides an education service to schools, to help prepare children aged 10–11, travelling on their own, to make safe journeys confidently before starting secondary school

Help stop bullying

• The Mayor is working with a charity called Beatbullying to tell everyone in London that they should help stop the bullies – this campaign is called Bully Watch London and you can phone them on 0845 338 5070

You can read some of the suggestions young Londoners sent in here.

There is also a child-friendly report on The State of London’s Children (PDF).

In the UK

Are you interested in the big issues that affect the whole country? Living in the capital means that you are in the middle of things and you have lots of ways to find out more about how the country is managed. Find out more about what's happening in the country.

There is also now a Children's Commissioner for England, whose name is Al Aynsley-Green. He runs an office called 11 Million, and it is his job to stand up for children's rights and make sure that that adults in charge listen to your views.

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• Young Londoners' Network
• LYNK UP Crew

Get involved

Have your say about London