Vote for Our Time This May and Support Children who have a Parent with a Mental Illness

Posted on 19 May 2023 by Emily Atkinson-Dalton
This May we have the life-changing charity Our Time taking part in the Discount Promo Codes charity poll, hoping to win 20% of our profits this month. Our Time supports children who have a parent with a mental illness, helping them to get access to the support they need, feel less alone, strengthen family relationships and build life skills. Find out more about Our Time below, and if they win your vote then don’t forget to have your say in our May charity poll. 

our time logo

 

Our Time is unique, in that it is the only charity whose primary goal is to support children who have a parent with a mental illness. They give them the support they need - in their families and in their schools - so they can reach their full potential. This is what every child with a parent who has a mental illness deserves.

 

What Does Our Time Do?


1 in 3 children have at least one parent who is struggling with mental health difficulties, and more than 1 in 10 children has a parent who is experiencing severe mental illness. These children can encounter unique difficulties in life due to this, one common issue is that they find school particularly challenging. This is often as to their daily life is heavily impacted by the mental illness of a parent, making it difficult to attend and concentrate at school or on their work. They also often struggle with feelings of isolation and face due to their family situation. 

Many are carers for their ill parents, or other family members, shouldering responsibilities beyond their years. Without support, they are three times more likely to develop a mental health difficulty themselves which is why Our Time is determined to support them.

our time family

But their KidsTime Workshops make a big difference. The KidsTime Workshop sessions provide a safe, supportive and judgment free space for children to openly discuss parent’s mental health difficulties, families to share experiences and  parents to connect with one another. KidsTime Workshops are often the first time that children and young people have been able to openly discuss their situation and how it affects them. The workshops allow children to learn about different mental illnesses through fun games, drama workshops and discussions, therefore helping them to understand what their parent or parents might be going through. These workshops also help the children find new friendships and enjoy fun activities with other children in similar situations to themselves. The parent’s themselves can also find support in one another, develop friendships and create a social support system.

 

“The KidsTime Workshop was the first time anyone described my mum’s illness clearly to me. I realised why she was different and that I had nothing to be ashamed of. I also met other children with the same problems which made me feel we weren’t abnormal. At home, I had to behave like an adult; we couldn’t run around or make a lot of noise and we had to always make sure Mum was okay. KidsTime was the one place I could be a child – I could play, have fun and laugh and I really needed that”
- Girl, KidsTime Workshop


As well as helping these children within their families, Our Time supports them in their schools and wider community. Our Time has a schools programme which helps teachers and students to openly discuss, talk about and develop an understanding of mental health in parents. They help teachers recognise students who have a parent with poor mental health, and they give them the confidence and the tools to support these young people. Our Time also offer professional training to GP’s, Social Workers, Youth Workers and other teams working with children and young people so they can help to identify and support them within their daily practice.

How can I contact Our Time?


If you’d like to learn more about Our Time, the first step is to visit their website where you can explore their workshop locations, resources for professionals or get in touch with them to share your story. You can find links to relevant support networks if you are a child or parent in need of 1-1 advice.

our time parent child

 

How can I learn more about Our Time and get involved?


If you haven’t already done so, please cast a vote for Our Time in the Discount Promo Code charity poll between 1st - 31st May 2023! You will find the poll on the right-hand side (or at the bottom of the page on mobile devices) and remember you only get to cast one vote so please consider supporting this often-overlooked group of children to ensure they know they are not alone. You can also continue your support for Our Time through their range of volunteering and fundraising opportunities or follow @ourtimecharity on social media to learn more about their work 

 

Has Our Time earned yur vote? If so, don’t forget to click over to our Homepage and cast your free vote for this unique charity helping children and families affected by parental mental health issues. Share the poll with friends and family and you could play a part in helping more children to have access to the support they need. 

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