Freya had never slept well since being born and as her parents we just accepted this and adapted to a life of constant tiredness.  Freya’s sleep habits involved waking frequently right throughout the night.  On a good night, this would be maybe twice and good nights occurred maybe once or twice a week.

The Evening Chronicle and Chronicle live have covered our story about firefighter Dan McManus receiving mental health support from Changing Minds…

Plans for a £3.7m mental helth centre for the North East move a step closer with an anonymous £90,000 donation.

An experienced fire fighter diagnosed with PTSD and depression following years of exposure to traumatic incidents is backing plans for a new mental health centre in the North East.

Most teenagers use some form of social media and have a profile on a social networking site. Many visit these sites every day.

A photographer is giving back by donating 10% of the profits from his print collection towards a new planned mental health centre.

Changing Minds with Pick up a Penny is featured in national specialist publication Mental Health Today.

A psychotherapist is urging mental health practitioners to explore the use of neurofeedback for mental health conditions to help relieve the mental health crisis in the UK.

Neurofeedback is one of a range of therapies which psychotherapist Sara Young and her team offer for suitable young patients.

The Miarose Co. has created a range of wonderful candles and wax melts to raise awareness of mental health and support our Pick up a Penny campaign.

Changing Minds with Pick up a Penny CIC founder Sara Young was recently asked to take part in a global live streamed conference for the celebration of some incredible North East third sector industries.

A leading psychotherapist who has created The Moffles, a series of children’s books to help children and the people who care for them address trauma and loss is backing fellow professional Sara Young’s bid to create a new multi-disciplined approach to psychotherapy.

Six-year-old  Thomas and his best friend five-year-old Bailey raised almost £500 for a North Tyneside social enterprise after completing an 8.2mile sponsored walk between The Priory in Tynemouth and St Mary’s Lighthouse.

Grace is learning new techniques to help her cope with her condition and the affect it has on her daily life.

The 10-year-old attends Woodlawn School in Monkseaton and lives with spina bifida, a condition that means the spinal column does not develop properly and hydrocephalus, which causes excessive fluid on the brain.

Chloe has overcome anxiety and depression thanks to support from Changing Minds with Pick up a Penny.

She has gone onto achieve six GCSEs and studies Level 3 singing and performance at Newcastle College Group and is looking forward to her next live performance.

The ripple effect…

Andy Laurie of ALC Ltd and Stu Kent of Hoot Architecture ran the 13.1 miles of the Virtual Great North Run on Sunday to raise money for Changing Minds with Pick up a Penny. Andy and Stu both completed the full distance on a warm day while observing social distancing guidelines.

It’s great to some publicity this week as our story appears in the Chronicle and other publications.

I can only imagine how difficult it has been for people in the world at this time. For Changing Minds with Pick Up a Penny as an organisation, we've struggled as I'm sure many have, in knowing how we can continue to support children, young people and adults in our community, dealing with their mental health issues and the additional stress and anxiety that is felt by so many.

Burns School of Black Belts donate half the money raised on their annual raffle, at their annual Extravaganza night to Changing Minds with Pick up a Penny.