How The Migraine Trust Helps Children and Young People with Migraine

Updated

The Migraine Trust is a UK migraine charity that provides free, confidential information and support for everyone affected by migraine — including children and young people. Its site has a dedicated section, "Help for children and young people with migraine," which is the starting point for younger patients, parents, and carers who want to understand the condition and find practical guidance. The charity also supports families indirectly through its wider information, support, and awareness work.

What the charity offers children and young people

The Migraine Trust describes itself as dedicated to helping people affected by migraine, and states that if you are a child or young person with migraine, "we can help." Its offer sits within a broader support model that includes:

  • Information and support for anyone affected by migraine, described as free and confidential.
  • A dedicated children and young people section on the website, aimed at younger people with migraine.
  • Awareness and campaigning work intended to increase understanding of migraine and improve the lives of everyone living with it.
  • Research funding and promotion, which shapes future care and understanding of the condition.

For children and young people specifically, the site positions this as a distinct area of help rather than a generic adult resource. The exact content of that section is best checked directly on the site, since it is the charity's own entry point for this audience.

How parents and carers can use the charity

If you are a parent or carer, the site's structure gives you a clear route in:

  1. Start with the children and young people section. This is the charity's own signposted area for younger patients.
  2. Use the general "Get support" route. The charity says it offers free, confidential information and support for everyone affected by migraine, "no matter your question or migraine history," with events throughout the year and multiple ways to get in touch.
  3. Check the news and blog content. The site publishes articles on migraine research, treatments, and campaigns, including expert-written pieces such as a two-part blog by David Kernick, a GP with an extended role in headache, on understanding and managing migraine holistically.
  4. Look at the workplace resources if relevant. The charity also runs a "Migraine and work" section and a workplace pledge, which matters for older teenagers and young adults entering work.

What the charity says about the scale of the problem

The Migraine Trust's own reporting highlights how poorly migraine is often understood. Its site references a report finding that nine in ten people with migraine say they are not believed. It also shares personal stories, such as Kofi's account of migraine's impact on his basketball career — "Migraine almost ended my career before it really began." These are useful for young people who feel isolated by the condition, because they show the charity treats lived experience as part of its information work.

Ways to get involved or support the work

The charity lists several routes for families who want to do more than read:

  • Campaign with us — join efforts to improve care, support, and awareness.
  • Take part in the weekly lottery — described as helping people with migraine at the same time.
  • Running events — run to help people with migraine.
  • Donate — the site says donations help transform the lives of people affected by migraine.
  • Sign up to the e-bulletin — the site's subscribe link is labelled "Sign up here."

What to check before relying on a specific resource

The homepage evidence confirms the existence of the children and young people section and the charity's general support offer, but it does not detail the full contents of that section, any age ranges, or whether specific services are clinical. For decisions about a child's care, use the charity's information alongside advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The charity's own framing is information and support, not diagnosis or treatment.

If your goal is simply to find out what help exists, the children and young people section plus the "Get support" route are the two places to begin. If your goal is to act — campaign, fundraise, or donate — the "Get involved" options above are the charity's own listed paths.