The Children's Society

Far too many children and young people are missing out on vital mental health support. This #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek, we’ve digitally transformed iconic statues across the country to spotlight the crisis facing children’s mental health. Our new research revealed that 41% of parents who sought help for their child did not receive the support they needed. These images remind us that these delays aren’t just statistics—they’re childhoods on hold. Support services should be there to help young people as soon as they need it. We’re calling on policymakers and the public alike to understand the need for easy to access wellbeing support for every young person in need.

Today, we opened the doors of Time for young people, Leeds, our community-based wellbeing hub. Time for young people, Leeds, offers vital emotional and mental health support to young people and their families. From one-to-one sessions with experienced practitioners to group activities and a safe, calming place to unwind, the service is designed to offer help exactly when it’s needed. No waiting list, no appointment. Just the right support at the right time. Mark Russell, CEO at The Children's Society, said: “Our mental health system is failing too many children. Long waits and overstretched services mean young people are being left to struggle on their own, often until it's too late. This new hub is a game-changer, a place where they can access immediate help in a way that works for them. Every child deserves to feel seen, heard and supported, and we're committed to making sure no one falls through the cracks.” Thank you to our partners on this service, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and Leeds City Council 🧡

It’s #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek and this year’s theme is Know Yourself, Grow Yourself. The more that children and young people understand about themselves, the more they are prepared to take on life’s challenges. Our services are designed to listen to young people, help them understand their emotions and develop strategies to cope with whatever life throws at them.  Through our services like Space to grow, we’re offering free early help for children struggling with their emotional health and wellbeing. Funded by BBC Children in Need and delivered in partnership with MACS Supporting Children & Young People and Children First, children can access one-to-one support, join a workshop, read online resources or speak to a specialist project worker by phone. We spoke to some young people we work with about their mental health journeys. This is what they said 💭

We’re zooming towards the end of January, excited to launch our new partnership with Revvl. Revvl connects people who want to experience once in a lifetime sporting events and support causes that deliver real impact. By entering their prize draw you could win the ultimate Formula 1 experience at Silverstone this July, complete with a luxury stay and private chef at Broughton's Edge Manor. What’s more, every entry will help The Children’s Society make sure that every child can get the support they need when they’re struggling. https://lnkd.in/euNP6qeS *Full T’s & C’s available at revvlinit.com. The F1 Silverstone 2025 competition closes on Wednesday 30th April 2025. No purchase necessary. You must be over 18 to enter. #Formula1 #Silverstone #Win

“Designing the service was an experience that I will treasure for the rest of my life. It gave me a voice where I feel I can actually do something.” - Sadie Sadie is one of the young people who co-designed Time for young people, our wellbeing support space for young people aged 10 to 25 who live or study in Newham, east London. Young people can walk-in and get the support they need, when they need it. No waiting list, no appointment. Both the service and the space were designed with and for young people. From consulting on who to hire, to the look and feel of the centre; young people had their say. Hear from the young designers and members of team who helped shape the service in our short film 👇

Our Director of Young People’s Services, Nick Cook, will be chairing Westminster Insight’s upcoming County Lines Conference. The event will spotlight a wide range of important topics like the future of the National County Lines Policing Strategy, the influence of social media, early intervention activities and more. Nick will be opening the event, providing insight, and facilitating discussion throughout. Date: Friday 31st January Time: 09:15 – 13:30 Where: Online Register here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dMRJ5Spa #CountryLines #CountyLinesWM

This week, our CEO Mark Russell gave evidence to the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill Committee. The Bill is a great first step towards putting children and their wellbeing at the heart of government and represents an opportunity to overturn the decline in young people’s. In particular, we welcome measures to improve information sharing, expand breakfast clubs and reduce school uniform costs. We’re grateful for the opportunity to present the case for the introduction of a national wellbeing measurement and more early intervention support in the Bill. If we want to genuinely transform young people’s wellbeing, we need to measure it.

At The Children’s Society, we aim to consult children and young people on the issues that affect their lives as much as possible. Listening to young people can help us understand how they feel adults respond to their needs, including on issues like preventing child exploitation.  Our national Prevention programme works with thousands of professionals to tackle child exploitation.  Our latest report consulted 324 young people to find out how they feel about these issues, to understand what they think may be preventing adults from taking effective action.  Young people reported that lack of understanding, bias and distrust were all major barriers to intervention.  By working closely with young people, we can better understand how to safeguard and protect them.     Read the full report, ‘Everyone has a role to play in preventing child exploitation’ here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d6zdRc7B

Last week, we accompanied a group of young people on a visit to Parliament. They got the chance to participate in a session on an upcoming Bill to improve online safety for young people. Young people shared their experiences of the online world, including the benefits of social media like connecting with friends and finding new hobbies, as well as some of the dangers of social media, such as the addictive design of apps and inappropriate content. As youth-oriented spaces, it’s important that politicians and decision-makers listen to young people to understand their experiences of phones and social media to meet their needs. We also had a tour of Parliament, watched debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords, and took in the London sites. Reflecting on the day, one young person said: “I’m going to tell my friends the effect that social media has on a young person.” Another said that they want the MP to know how grateful they are to be included in the discussion on the Bill. Congratulations to the young people that attended for their impressive contributions!✨

Pets are more than just cuddly companions. They are amazing for their owner’s mental and physical health. Our blog explores the different ways that children can benefit from growing up with pets: 🍃Stress busting 🧡Emotional support 🤝Improved social skills 👟Boost physical activity Fight off those January blues and read more about the power of our furry friends: https://lnkd.in/eG5WDkFS