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The Young ME Sufferers Trust
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Tymes Trust is the longest established national UK service for children
and young people with ME and their families. It is a respected national
charity whose entire professional team give their time free of charge.
They work constantly with doctors, teachers and other specialists, and
played a major role in producing the children’s section of the Dept
of Health Report on CFS/ME (2002). |
In 1989, two young people with ME published the first Tymes Magazine to give children with ME a voice. For the first time, there was a place for them to share experiences and needs. Tymes Trust became a registered charity in June 2000 and now offers a range of services. We also regularly supply expert information and are consulted by doctors and education specialists as well as families, members of the press and government departments including the DoH and DfES.
The Trust works with NHS Direct, ChildLine, ASPECT, the Nisai Virtual Academy, the Association of School and College Leaders, and has Partner ME Groups around the UK. It is also a member of the ME Alliance of charities and the Chief Medical Officer’s Working Group on CFS/ME.
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Tymes Trust Executive Director Jane Colby is a former head teacher, member of the National Association of Educational Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants (now ASPECT), the National Association of Head Teachers, the Society of Authors, and the UK government Chief Medical Officer’s Working Group on CFS/ME. Jane is a medical educator and professional author who writes for children as well as for adults, edits the Trust's publications and co-authored the largest ever epidemiological study of ME. |
Children with ME are frequently unable to travel in order to meet others. Our personal approach is tailored to alleviate this sense of isolation and many youngsters have made friends of their own age through us.
The Trust is committed to ensuring that children approaching us for support are respected and protected. Personal details are not passed to other organisations. The Trust's data protection policy is available on request.
Tymes Trust Support Services
Registration provides:
Each member of our Advice Line Team either has a child with ME, or has had ME themselves. You will be talking to people who understand the illness from first-hand experience. They have full information and regular training updates, and telephone back-up from our expert panel. If we do not know the answer to a question, we will find someone or direct you to someone who does.
Our Professionals Referral Service allows doctors, teachers, social workers and other professionals to consult colleagues with knowledge and experience of ME in children.
Parents or Guardians : if your child has ME but does not want to be registered, you may contact us to obtain our services on their behalf.
The Tymes Trustcard
The Tymes Trustcard carries your photo
and is signed by your Head Teacher or college Principal. It is there to protect
your needs whist in school or college. Use of the card is recommended by Lord
Adonis, Parlimentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools and endorsed by the
Association of School and College Leaders.
Examples of The Trust's Work
Our Needs Our Lives - reporting on what young people with ME require from
a CFS/ME clinic
Based on a detailed survey of young people and their families, this report was launched at the Rivermead Gate surgery, Essex in 2005.
The Tymes Trust / Nisai Education Partnership
This partnership, launched at the House of Lords in 2004, provides virtual education for young people with ME. The partnership has secured funding for a limited number of free places for students beyond the age of 16.
House of Lords presentation of computers to children with ME
The Trust held a presentation of computers to three children with ME at the House of Lords in 2002, sponsored by our Patron Lord Clement-Jones and funded by RMCC and McDonalds Restaurants Ltd. This project supported their education, which needed to be substantially home-based. Attending were members of both Houses of Parliament, government ministers, Tymes Trust Partner Group Co-ordinators and members of our Professionals Referral Service including consultant paediatricians and GPs, best-selling author James Herbert, and Tymes Trust Team members, together with the families and teachers of the children receiving the computers.
Professional training for doctors and teachers
Tuesday 23rd September 2003 : ME, The Practical Aspects
Presentation for educational and health professionals with places available to parents and pupils. Undertaken as requested for Essex LEA.
Venue : Southend, Essex
Friday 19th September 2003 : Update on ME
Presentation requested as part of the Medical Education Programme for Doctors
Venue : Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Wednesday 30th April 2003 : Chelmsford PCT Interactive Forum on ME (PGEA x 2 hours approved)
Multi-disciplinary training evening run by our Executive Director Jane Colby and Dr Nigel Hunt (Associate Director of Post Graduate GP Education, Eastern Deanery and Tymes Trust Medical Adviser). This session qualified GPs for two hours' Post Graduate Education Allowance.
Venue : Springfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex
We are pleased to note that, subsequent to attending a Tymes Trust Training Day, a Tuition Manager for pupil support services and her team won the first Thornton Award (2002) for supporting the education of two pupils with ME.
Wondering whether to register?
Contact us in confidence to talk it over.
Tymes Trust
PO Box 4347
Stock
Ingatestone
CM4 9TE