The Principle Trust is marking 15 years of supporting children in Yorkshire experiencing adversity. Founder Mike Davies speaks to Laura Reid.
Published 23rd Oct 2026, 16:50 BST
Hundreds of families. Thousands of moments that matter. Two simple sentences that sum up the work of The Principle Trust Children’s Charity.
Its recent anniversary celebrations have prompted a moment of reflection from founder and chairman Mike Davies who understands more than most how experiences beyond a child’s control can shape their upbringing.
Having lost his mum to cancer when he was just five-years-old, he was confronted with a challenging childhood - a father working multiple jobs to try to provide for the family, no holidays, no car and very few opportunities for family outings.
In 2011, the businessman founded Yorkshire-based The Principle Trust with a simple belief – that every child deserves the opportunity to experience happy family memories, whatever challenges life may bring – and 15 years on, that remains at the heart of the charity’s work. The organisation provides free, week-long respite breaks for children and families across Yorkshire who are facing adversity, including mental health issues, trauma, abuse, poverty, serious illness and disabilities.
“Everything that I wanted to do in setting up a charity and giving back to children, I think we are accomplishing,” reflects Mike, who received an MBE for his work in 2017. “And it gives me huge satisfaction to know that what we are doing in the charity is helping children who are underprivileged, disadvantaged, disabled or have special needs. Just after my mum passed away when I was five, it was a really difficult time...But you have just got to get on with it...It gives me terrific satisfaction to know that we are now able to help people who may have been in a similar situation to me or in other challenging situations.”
Over the past 15 years, the charity has reported supporting more than 6,300 children facing adversity and now has eight respite homes across Blackpool, Filey and the Lake District, including three specially adapted for children with disabilities and complex medical needs. For families encountering some of life’s toughest challenges, the opportunity to take a break together can mean so much more than a holiday. It can offer breathing space during a difficult time, help rebuild family relationships and give children the chance to simply enjoy being children.
Take one beneficiary, Kate, whose family had been experiencing homelessness when they were referred to the trust. A single bed shared between three people had become the norm and everyday things many families take for granted – a meal around a table or space to play – had become luxuries. Their week away through the charity meant for seven days, they had stability, comfort, worry-free time together – and a place that felt like home. She and her children “felt like the happiest people ever”.
For Elizabeth, whose full name, like Kate’s, is not being used in order to protect their identities, the break came at a time when she was rebuilding her future with her children, having escaped an abusive situation. Money was tight, trust was fragile, and a family holiday felt out of reach. It offered a chance to relax away from the pressures of daily life after a period of enormous stress, “bringing light and hope to my life when there was none”, she says.
Nearly 250 families were given a week-long break through the charity last year, referred through the likes of children’s charities, councils and social workers, schools, domestic abuse organisations and bereavement and hospice services. Its recently published 2025-26 impact report highlights the effect that those breaks can have on families, with more than 30 per cent noting an improvement in mental and emotional wellbeing and overall family wellbeing.
As it marks its 15th anniversary year, Mike says children’s mental health is becoming an increasing focus for the charity, alongside other adverse childhood experiences, with new partnerships with Bradford District and Craven Mind, Leeds Mind, Rotherham and Barnsley Mind, and Hull and East Yorkshire Mind. Late last year, the trust also announced a three-year vision to support an additional 100 families each year by 2028, and there are plans in place for shorter weekend or day trips too. A total of £38,000 raised through the charity’s anniversary celebration, A Night at the Seaside, last month will support it into its next chapter, Mike says.
“We are scratching the surface really of the number of children in Yorkshire that are either living in poverty or living with mental health issues. Mental health and wellbeing has become more of a priority for us and will be in the future because it appears that's the area where 21st century living is affecting families and children more and more.” Kerry Magson, Head of Partnerships, Service Delivery and Engagement at the trust, agrees. “One of the greatest impacts that we see is on mental wellbeing. (We’re) taking children out of what are life's toughest challenges – giving them that pause, that intervention to be able to provide time to rest, to reconnect and to make memories. And that's where we see most of the improvement is with mental wellbeing.”
For Mike, even now in his mid 70s, his childhood experiences remain with him. He understood from a young age what it felt like when things that many other children take for granted simply weren’t possible. “We know that adversity happens. We know that unfortunately children do have traumatic times,” he reflects. “But to be able to look back and see what we're doing gives me a huge amount of pride – and to know that what we're doing is having an impact. It is helping families. My passion is the charity, being able to give something back. And that's what we'll continue doing for as long as we are able.”