In October 2025, Elevare Civic Education Group hosted a roundtable discussion to mark the launch of Three Thousand Voices: Growing Up in South East London — a landmark piece of research capturing the views and experiences of 3,000 young people across our colleges and schools.
Hosted by Dr Sam Parrett CBE DL and chaired by JL Dutaut, Commissioning Editor at Schools Week, the discussion brought together senior leaders from across education, policy, local government and the charity sector to explore the findings and identify collective actions.
The conversation centred on four key themes: student voice, inclusion and belonging; civic engagement and democracy; the impact of poverty on young people's lives; and the need for systemic change and cross-sector collaboration. Attendees highlighted rising loneliness among young people, the challenges facing learners in SEND and Alternative Provision, and the crucial role schools and colleges play in filling gaps left by wider society.
Learner ambassadors from London South East Colleges and Bromley Beacon Academy also shared their personal experiences, bringing the research to life and reinforcing the importance of listening directly to young people.