Helping to reverse the trend for the "Unhappiest Generation"
I’ve signed up for the Richmond Park Half Marathon! While the hills in the park, Sawyer’s and Broomfield Hill are going to be a challenge, I may even see a few deer.
It’s for a fantastic cause. I am raising money for The Children’s Society.
Recent reports show that 15-year-olds in the UK have the lowest life satisfaction in Europe. Between online dangers, academic pressure, and poverty, it is harder than ever to be a teenager today. The Children’s Society works tirelessly to reverse this trend, supporting young carers and those struggling with their mental health so they can actually enjoy their childhood.
Any donation, big or small, will help give a young person a brighter future (and give me the motivation to get to the finish line!).
If you’d also like to run for the charity, there are a few compelling reasons, as there are for donating so I’ve added some info here.
Supporting The Children’s Society is a powerful choice because they focus on a demographic that is often overlooked: teenagers and young people in deep crisis.
While many charities focus on younger children or specific diseases, The Children’s Society specialises in the complex, “harder” issues facing adolescents in the UK right now—specifically exploitation and systemic poverty.
Here are the four most compelling reasons to run for them in 2026:
1. They Fight “County Lines” Drug Gangs
The Children’s Society is arguably the UK’s leading charity in tackling County Lines—the criminal practice where gangs groom children to transport drugs to different parts of the country.
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The Reality: Vulnerable teenagers are often manipulated with gifts or status, then trapped by debt and violence. They are often treated by police as criminals rather than victims.
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The Charity’s Role: They run the #LookCloser campaign, training police and transport workers (train guards, etc.) to spot the signs of a trafficked child rather than arresting them. Your fundraising directly supports legal aid and therapy for these youths.
2. They Support “The Unhappiest Generation”
The Children’s Society publishes the annual “Good Childhood Report,” a major piece of research into the state of the nation’s youth.
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The Stat: Recent reports have shown that UK 15-year-olds have the lowest life satisfaction in Europe.
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The Cause: They are tackling a mental health crisis driven by online safety issues, academic pressure, and the aftermath of the pandemic. They lobby the government to change laws (like the Online Safety Bill) to protect children from damaging algorithms.
3. They Help “Young Carers”
There are thousands of children in the UK who act as the primary carer for a sick or disabled parent.
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These children often miss school, have no social life, and suffer from extreme stress.
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The Children’s Society runs festivals and respite breaks to give these kids a chance to just be children again, even if only for a few days.
4. The “Cost of Living” Crisis
Because they work with the most disadvantaged families, they are on the frontline of the current economic crisis. They provide emergency support for families who are choosing between heating and eating, ensuring that teenagers in these homes don’t fall prey to criminal gangs offering “easy money” to help their parents pay bills.
What Your Fundraising Can Do
Running a half marathon can achieve:
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£10 can pay for a hot meal and a safe space for a runaway child.
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£50 can pay for a one-to-one counselling session for a victim of sexual exploitation.
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£300 (a typical fundraising target) could pay for a specialist worker to support a young refugee who has arrived in the UK alone.
