Tickhill sleep charity features on BBC's Panorama

A CHARITY set up by a woman from Tickhill will be featured on the BBC documentary show Panorama tonight.

A CHARITY set up by a woman from South Yorkshire will be featured on the BBC documentary show Panorama tonight.  

The Children’s Sleep Charity was founded in 2012 by Vicki Dawson from Tickhill and offers support to families who are facing sleep issues.

Vicki (pictured) and her work will be on show during tonight’s episode of Panorama, which is titled Sleepless Britain and examines how children’s sleep is getting worse.

It is estimated that around 30% of children will suffer with sleep issues at some point during their childhood with this figure rising to 86 per cent for children with additional needs.  

Sleep deprivation can cause a wide range of difficulties for both parent and child including lowering of the immune system, behavioural issues and under achievement in education.

Vicki said: “The charity supports all families to get a better night’s sleep.  

“We have been innundated with requests for support from families of children across the country and can receive up to 200 emails every day.  

“When families are sleep deprived it can lead them into crisis.  

“Our charity finds it very hard to source funding and we are hoping that by appearing on Panorama we can help to raise awareness about the importance of sleep for wellbeing.”

Among those helped by the Children’s Sleep Charity is Marie Simmons, whose son Kristan (6) is on the autistic spectrum.

“Kristan was up for most of the night and I decided to get help,” she said.

“I hoped there was a light at the end of what felt a very dark tunnel.

“I approached The Children’s Sleep Charity and they supported me to make changes to his bedtime routine.  

“They also supported me through implementing the new programme, especially when I wanted to give up.

“After a few weeks Kristan started to sleep through the night, his behaviour improved in the day time and evenings are no longer spent running up and down the stairs.

“Our lives have changed so much now we can relax at night and get some sleep.”

To find out more about the charity and the support that they offer visit their website www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.uk.

You can see Panorama: Sleepless Britain tonight on BBC1 at 8.30pm.