More than 6,000 children and young people from 60 schools have taken part in the latest Coventry One Big Voice survey, sharing their views and experiences of living and growing up in the city.
The survey was designed to inform the work of Child Friendly Cov, a Coventry City Council-led programme delivered alongside partners from across the city, with a shared aim of making Coventry a city where children and young people are valued, supported and enjoy themselves.
The survey was designed to give children and young people the opportunity to share their thoughts and help shape the future of their city in areas such as wellbeing, safety, communities, relationships and sense of belonging, as well as their opportunities and experiences online.
The findings show that while most pupils report positive experiences across a range of outcomes, a significant minority experience multiple challenges.
Around 14% of primary pupils and 15% of secondary pupils reported that they do not always like where they live and do not always feel safe there. Safety in Coventry city centre and on public transport was also identified as a concern, particularly among girls and gender-diverse young people.
Online safety was another area of concern highlighted by the survey. Nearly 30% of primary pupils and 36% of secondary pupils said they had seen something confusing or upsetting online, with the findings indicating that exposure to online harm begins at an early age.
Health, wellbeing and relationships with adults were also important themes. Pupils who reported feeling unhappy were less likely to know where to access mental health support and less likely to report regularly eating breakfast. Those who felt listened to by adults were more likely to report positive outcomes relating to wellbeing, belonging and their ability to make a difference.
Councillor Mal Mutton, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Coventry City Council, said: "Thank you to the more than 6,000 children and young people who took part in the One Big Voice survey.
“Their thoughts have provided a valuable insight into living and growing up in Coventry and will greatly help our work to make Coventry a truly child-friendly city over the coming years."
Sukriti Sen, Director of Children's and Education Services at Coventry City Council, said: “The voices of children and young people should influence the work of the whole Council and its partners across the city, from health and education to transport, the environment, communities, culture and the places where children live, learn and play.
“Listening is essential, but it is only the beginning - the focus now must be on turning what children and young people have told us into meaningful action."
Dr Charlotte Price, Associate Professor at Coventry University, who co-designed the survey and analysed the results, added: "The One Big Voice survey provides an important snapshot of what it is like to grow up in Coventry, highlighting both the things children and young people value and challenges they face.
"The responses provide an important evidence base for understanding their experiences and considering how their views can help shape the future of the city."
The One Big Voice findings will now help to set the Child Friendly Cov priorities for the coming two years, and will provide a framework for partners across Coventry to consider how their work can address the issues raised.
Watch a video of the survey findings event.
The full Coventry One Big Voice findings report is available at www.childfriendlycov.co.uk/one-big-voice.