By Mike Davies MBE, Founder & Chairperson, The Principle Trust Children’s Charity
Over the past year, I have spent a great deal of time listening to the families we support, the partners we work alongside, and the communities we serve. What I have heard again and again is clear: children’s mental health in Yorkshire is in crisis, and the need for our support has never been greater.
Since founding The Principle Trust Children’s Charity, our mission has always been simple – to help vulnerable children and families across Yorkshire by providing free respite breaks during times of challenge, trauma, or hardship. For over a decade, we have worked closely with referring partners across the region to ensure our work remains responsive, meaningful, and guided by real need.
Today, the picture before us is changing. And so must we.
Why We Are Refocusing Our Mission
Across Yorkshire, we are seeing a sharp and worrying rise in children experiencing mental health difficulties. This is not a small shift, it is a surge.
Our referring partners have been reporting the same trend. The mental health charity Mind recently shared with us that in Bradford alone, contact regarding children’s mental health has increased by 30%, amounting to 18,731 touchpoints. Bradford is just one part of a much wider regional picture.
From Hull and East Riding to Sheffield, Leeds, and beyond, families are struggling. Many feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unable to access timely support. Poor mental health in childhood doesn’t just affect how a child feels today, it affects confidence, education, family relationships, friendships, and long-term wellbeing.
As a charity dedicated to supporting children during their most vulnerable moments, we cannot ignore this growing need.
What This Means for Our Work
That is why we are strategically refocusing our mission to place greater emphasis on children experiencing mental health challenges. This means:
Increasing the number of free week-long respite breaks available to children struggling with their mental health
Strengthening our partnerships with organisations working in the mental health and wellbeing space
Ensuring our resources, messaging, and support reflect the realities families are facing today
Our respite homes provide more than just a break. They offer something families tell us they desperately need:
a safe, calming environment where they can rest, reset, and reconnect.
Time away from stressors at home gives children space to breathe. Families rediscover moments of joy. Parents describe improvements in sleep, communication, and behaviour. Some tell us their child smiled for the first time in months.
These are not small things. These are turning points.
A Renewed Commitment to Hope
This shift is not a departure from who we are, it is a deeper expression of our purpose.
Our work has always been shaped by the needs of the families we serve. While we are increasing our support for children facing mental health challenges, our commitment remains firmly rooted in helping all children across Yorkshire experiencing adverse childhood experiences. This includes those living with trauma, abuse, poverty, serious illness, and disabilities.
Today, the needs of these children demand a clearer, stronger, and more focused response. By refocusing our mission and expanding the number of respite breaks we provide, we are ensuring that our support reaches the children who need it most, when they need it most.
As I often say, a simple break can change everything.
It can restore hope, rebuild relationships, and remind a child that brighter days are possible.
Thank you to every supporter, patron, referring partner, volunteer, and donor who stands with us. Together, we will continue making memories that last for the children who need them now more than ever.
Mike Davies MBE
Founder & Chairperson
The Principle Trust Children’s Charity
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