Important Announcements

Celebrating Sarah Bentley

Celebrating Sarah Bentley’s Leadership of the Child Mental Health Charter Committee.

After eight years of outstanding dedication and unwavering commitment to improving children’s mental health through the Charter, Sarah Bentley is stepping down as Chair of the Child Mental Health Charter committee.

As a founding member, Sarah has been a member of the Child Mental Health Charter Committee since it began, in 2018. Sarah worked closely with the late Jeff Thomas and credits his support and belief in her, as a motivating factor for her to continue her work with the Charter to this day.

Since Sarah took on the role of chair in 2023, Sarah’s leadership has built on the work of Sophia O’Neill, whom Sarah took over the role from. Sarah’s leadership has helped to further shape the Charter into a respected and influential voice, championing the emotional wellbeing of children and young people and working to ensure their needs remain firmly on the national agenda.

Throughout her time as Chair, Sarah has been a passionate advocate for the Charter’s six principles – encouraging professionals, organisations and parliamentarians to work together to create meaningful change. Under her leadership, the Charter has continued to grow its network of supporters, empowering practitioners across the country to engage with their MPs and campaign for better mental health support for children. MP contact has been high on the agenda for Sarah, and her goal when taking on the role as chair was to increase the number of therapists who had contacted their MPs to make them aware of the Charter. Sarah has succeeded in this goal, as 52 members have contacted their MPs under her leadership – many of them leaning on Sarah for guidance and support in doing so, with Sarah attending many of the meetings as a support for the therapist.

Sarah has represented the Child Mental Health Charter at some of the country’s most influential venues, speaking twice in the Houses of Parliament and attending meetings at both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Sarah has built relationships within politics and worked endlessly to ensure that the voices of children, families and PTUK professionals are heard where it really matters.

Her leadership has also seen the Charter contribute to parliamentary discussions, online conferences, support consultation on proposed mental health legislation, find its own identity within PTUK and continue campaigning for greater recognition of qualified therapeutic professionals and earlier access to effective and qualified mental health support for children.

Perhaps Sarah’s greatest achievement has been inspiring others to become advocates themselves. Through her warmth, determination and belief that ‘together we are stronger – we really, really are’, she has encouraged countless professionals to speak up and spread the word about the Charter – be it through writing to their MPs, speaking at conferences, contributing to parliamentary reports and playing an active role in influencing policy for the benefit of children and young people.

The impact that Sarah has had on the people fortunate enough to work alongside her – namely the rest of the committee – is vast and the committee wish to thank Sarah for all of her unwavering support.

In the same way that Sarah felt supported by Jeff, she has continued his legacy in the support that she has offered to the committee.

Sarah has been a source of steadfast encouragement, investing time in every committee member’s personal and professional development and championing them at every opportunity. Whether offering guidance, creating opportunities to step out of their comfort zone, and an unshakeable belief in others before they even believed in themselves, Sarah has helped each committee member to grow in both confidence and capability.

Whilst Sarah is stepping down as Chair, the impact of her leadership will continue to be felt for many years to come. She leaves behind a Charter that is stronger, more influential and better connected than ever before, with a passionate committee ready to build on the foundations she has helped create. Sarah has helped to foster a culture where every voice is valued, every contribution matters and collaboration is at the heart of all we do.

On behalf of everyone involved with the Child Mental Health Charter, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Sarah for her vision, compassion and tireless commitment. Her legacy is not only reflected in the Charter’s achievements, but in the many lives that will be improved because she chose to champion children’s mental health.

Sarah feels that now is the time to step down and that the committee are in a strong place to continue the work of the Charter without Sarah at the helm. The new chairperson of the committee and committee roles will be shared in September…so watch this space!

Thank you, Sarah. Your dedication has inspired us all; your contribution will never be forgotten and your impact on both children and the Charter will remain.

Cathy Baker

Writing and Communications Lead
Child Mental Health Charter Committee.