We were delighted to join the Children’s Commissioner’s Big Conversation podcast for Episode 12, where our Founder and CEO, Josh Pelled, sat down with Youth Ambassadors Annabel and Rosanna to talk about what children and young people need to stay connected to education when they’re away from school due to long-term illness.

At Bright Futures UK, we’re the only charity in the UK dedicated to supporting young people aged 5 to 24 who miss school because of serious or long-term medical conditions. This conversation was an incredible opportunity to share our mission, highlight the gaps in current systems, and explore how we can all work together to create a more connected and compassionate approach to education.

Why Staying Connected Matters

For a child or young person living with a long-term illness, time away from school often means more than just missing lessons. It can mean losing friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

That’s why we’re committed to helping every young person stay connected — not just to their education, but to their community, aspirations, and future. Through one-to-one academic support, mentoring, and wellbeing programmes, we aim to make sure no child feels forgotten during recovery.

As Josh shared on the podcast:

“Education is such an important part of a young person’s life — it gives them purpose, structure, and hope. We want every young person we support to know that their future is still bright, even when things are tough.”

Bridging the Gaps

During the conversation, Annabel and Rosanna raised important questions about how schools, healthcare services, and local authorities communicate with each other — and what happens when they don’t.

Josh discussed how families often face complex systems that don’t always work together, leading to delays in support and added stress for both children and parents.

“We see time and again that when communication between services breaks down, it’s the child who suffers,” he said. “There needs to be a more joined-up approach so that education, health, and family support all work hand in hand.”

Building a Brighter Future Together

Our message on The Big Conversation was clear: every young person deserves the chance to learn, connect, and thrive — regardless of their health condition.

We’re proud to be part of the national conversation about improving education and wellbeing support for children who are too often overlooked. Collaboration between charities, schools, and policymakers is essential if we’re going to make lasting change.

If you’d like to learn more about how we support young people through illness — or find out how you can get involved — check our Programmes page on our website.

And if you’re a young person, make sure to have your say in The Big Conversation — the Children’s Commissioner’s national survey where children and young people can share their hopes and ideas for the future: childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-conversation.

Listen to the Episode

Episode 12 of The Big Conversation featuring Josh Pelled, Annabel, and Rosanna is available now on Acast and all major podcast platforms.

Together, we can make sure that every young person — no matter their health challenges — has the support they need to keep learning, growing, and believing in their bright future.