Almost one in five (18.5%) children and young people surveyed in Ealing said they did not feel safe in their local area, while the borough has recorded some of the strongest GCSE results in England, according to research published by the Children’s Commissioner for England.
The findings also show that 18.5% of children and young people surveyed said they lacked fun activities near where they lived, while around a third of children in the borough were living in relative poverty.
The figures come from The Childhood Lottery, published last month (October 2026), which examines children’s experiences across England. Its findings on safety and activities draw on the Children’s Commissioner’s Big Ambition survey, conducted in 2023 and 2024, which received more than 250,000 responses nationally, including more than 200,000 directly from children and young people.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, said in the report: “Children care so deeply about where they live – that is why I have undertaken this work.”
She called on local, regional and national decision-makers to examine the findings and take action to improve children’s lives.
The proportion of children and young people surveyed who said they did not feel safe in their local area was higher in Ealing than in neighbouring Brent (14.5%) and Hammersmith and Fulham (10%). The England average was 12.3%.
On activities, 18.5% of those surveyed in Ealing disagreed that they had fun things to do near where they lived, compared with 12.7% in Brent and 12% in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Ealing received an overall score of 591 out of 960 in the Commissioner’s assessment of different aspects of children’s lives, slightly above the England average of 585. Among nearby boroughs, Hammersmith and Fulham scored 666, Harrow 654 and Hillingdon 601, while Brent scored 544.
Ealing performed strongly in education. More than half of pupils (57.2%) achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSEs, compared with 45.4% nationally, placing the borough 13th in England.
The proportion of 16- and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training was also lower than the national average, at 1.1% compared with 3%.
The report puts relative child poverty in Ealing at 33.9%, compared with 27% nationally. The figure was higher in Brent, at 42.3%, but lower in Hammersmith and Fulham, at 24.2%.
Elly Heaton, chief executive of Young Ealing Foundation, which supports grassroots organisations working with children and young people across the borough, told EALING.NEWS: “These findings reinforce how important it is that the grassroots organisations, who are a vital part of the infrastructure supporting children and young people, particularly those facing the greatest disadvantage, are properly supported.
“Too many young people still face barriers to accessing safe spaces, positive activities, and the support they need to thrive.
“By strengthening and connecting these organisations, helping them secure the resources they need and ensuring that young people’s voices influence the decisions that affect their lives, they can continue to grow their offer and support more people.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to feel safe, have fun, belong and reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances or where in Ealing they grow up.”
The report also found that 67.3% of children in Ealing’s care were placed outside the borough, compared with 49.2% nationally. More than a third (35.3%) had three or more social workers during a year, against an England average of 24%.
Councillor Blerina Hashani, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for a fairer start, told EALING.NEWS: “We welcome the positive outcomes highlighted in the Children’s Commissioner’s report, including those relating to educational attainment and young people’s participation in education, employment or training. We will also look carefully at the areas where the report identifies greater challenges for children in the borough.
“Supporting children and families early, before problems escalate, is an important part of our approach. We work alongside families, schools, health services, community organisations and other partners to provide support, safe spaces and opportunities for young people and to safeguard those who may be at risk.
“Since 2022, the council has invested around £2million in youth services, including mentoring and outreach programmes, and safe spaces for young people. We are also supporting families facing financial pressures from the cost of living and working to tackle inequality.”
The full report and accompanying borough-level data are available on the Children’s Commissioner’s website.
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