Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, taking place from 11th – 17th May, is encouraging people across the UK to “Take Action” for better mental health – a message that deeply resonates with everyone at The Principle Trust Children’s Charity.
For many of the families we support, everyday life can feel overwhelming. Families facing trauma, poverty, serious illness, disability, bereavement, or mental health challenges are often carrying an emotional weight that can leave little room to rest, reconnect, or simply enjoy time together.
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we want to highlight the importance of creating space for families to breathe.
The Power of Respite
Sometimes, taking action for mental health doesn’t need to mean big interventions. Sometimes, what families need most is the opportunity to step away from daily pressures and difficult circumstances — even for a short while.
At The Principle Trust Children’s Charity, we see firsthand the impact that respite breaks can have. Through our holiday homes in Blackpool, Filey, and the Lake District, we provide free family breaks for children across Yorkshire facing adversity.
These breaks offer more than just time away. They give families the opportunity to:
- Rest and recharge
- Reconnect with one another
- Create positive memories together
- Experience moments of joy during difficult times
Changing environments does not take away the challenges families face, but it can provide something incredibly valuable alongside them — togetherness, hope, and space to simply be a family again.
Why This Matters
Our Patron and Children’s Mental Health Ambassador, Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar, understands personally just how important these moments can be.
After losing her father at the age of 13, Yasmin remembers a charity-organised trip to Scotland to see the Edinburgh Tattoo as one of the defining moments that helped her family reconnect during an incredibly painful time.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared:
“At the time, it was simply a few days away from home, but years later, it remains one of the memories that has stayed with me. Despite everything we were carrying, we had space to step outside of grief for a while, experience something fun and reconnect as a family.”
Stories like Yasmin’s remind us that respite is not about ignoring difficult circumstances — it is about giving families moments of relief and connection alongside them.
Taking Action Together
Our Founder, Mike Davies MBE, believes Mental Health Awareness Week is an important reminder that supporting mental wellbeing can start with simple acts of care and connection.
“We know that families are under pressure and even a short break away can make a huge difference.”
Since launching in 2011, The Principle Trust Children’s Charity has supported almost 6,000 children across Yorkshire through free respite breaks. Today, with eight respite homes, we are able to support around 308 families every year.
As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, we encourage everyone to consider what “taking action” might look like — whether that’s checking in on a loved one, making time to reconnect as a family, or supporting charities helping families through difficult times.
Because sometimes, creating space to breathe can change everything.
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