Workshop participant holding a ball

KidsTime Workshops

Young woman

KidsTime was the first place where my questions were actually answered. It was the first time my mum’s illness was finally given a name and the experiences that I had been struggling with were normalised… I wasn’t the odd one out anymore.

– Juliet, who attended KidsTime from age nine

What are KidsTime Workshops?

Our Time’s KidsTime Workshops are unique. They give families, where there is poor parental mental health, a safe and supportive environment.   

Young people can express themselves, without feeling exposed or judged. Often, this is the first time they’ve spoken about their parent’s difficulties, but there is no stigma or shame here. At the workshops, these children find strength, hope, encouragement and a friendly community where they can have fun.

Together, families learn about mental illness through discussion, drama and games. Children can be children and not take on adult responsibilities, while their parents can connect with one another – focusing on being parents rather than patients – and enjoying their children’s achievements. Families share experiences, offer advice and support one another. A community is created, and friendships are made that go beyond the workshop.

KidsTime Workshops take place once a month, after school, in a family-friendly community setting, such as a Children’s Centre or Family Hub, and are run by dedicated teams of local staff, trained by Our Time.

 

Joe Wicks

I thought this kind of work is so powerful and so important that it really should be in every single borough in the country.

– Fitness coach and author Joe Wicks MBE, on Our Time’s podcast My Family, Mental Illness… and Me

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Stories from our workshops
woman with her daughter

Read stories from children, young people and families who share how KidsTime Workshops have had a positive impact on their lives.

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