Phones Down. The 7 day Challenge  

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Many of us remember doing sponsored walks at school. Names written down by friends and family on a sheet of paper. A small challenge, done together, raising money for a good cause. This is a modern version of that idea. But instead of walking miles, children are being invited to take on a different kind of challenge: 

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Switch off their smartphones for 7 days. 

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What is the 7-Day Challenge? 

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The Phones Down challenge takes place during the first week of the summer holidays: Sunday 26th July to Sunday 2nd August. 

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Children take a break from smartphones and use that time to reconnect with real life, friends, family, and the world around them. 

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At the same time, they can raise money through sponsorship for the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, supporting young people’s mental health. 

 

Why this matters 

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Children today are growing up in a very different world. 

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Many are spending around 35 hours a week on smartphones, often affecting: 

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• Sleep  

• Mood  

• Focus  

• Relationships  

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We are seeing more anxiety, more disconnection, and more pressure on young people than ever before. 

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This challenge exists to do something about that. 

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The Brianna Ghey Legacy Project was created to promote positive mental health in young people, helping families, schools and communities better support children growing up in a digital world. 

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This challenge brings that mission to life in a simple, practical way. 

 

What does ‘Phones Down’ mean? 

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Every family is different, so this is flexible. But we recommend handing your turned off phone to a trusted adult at the start of the challenge for the 7 day period. 

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For most children, it means: 

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• No social media  

• No scrolling or gaming on smartphones  

• No constant notifications  

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Parents can agree what works best: 

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• Basic phones for safety  

• Clear boundaries  

• Adjustments where needed  

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This is about reducing distraction, not creating stress. 

 

What will children do instead? 

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Without phones, children often: 

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• Spend more time outdoors  

• See friends face-to-face  

• Get creative  

• Help at home  

• Try things they wouldn’t normally do  

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It can feel like stepping back into a simpler time, slower, calmer, more connected. 

 

Will it be hard? 

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For many children, yes, especially at the start. That’s completely normal. 

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The first couple of days might feel strange or even boring. Then something shifts, creativity might return, conversations will come back. Life will feel different. 

 

How does the fundraising work? 

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Just like a traditional sponsored challenge: 

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• Children create a fundraising page here PEACE & MIND UK CIC (Brianna Ghey Legacy Project) | SuperKind 

• Friends and family sponsor them through their own QR code 

• They complete the 7-day challenge and tell us how they got on! 

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All funds raised go towards the work of the Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, supporting programmes that improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing. 

 

How can parents support their child? 

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You don’t need to make this perfect. 

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You can help by: 

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• Talking about the challenge together  

• Setting simple boundaries  

• Planning a few activities  

• Encouraging time with friends  

• Modelling some of the behaviour where possible  

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Even small changes can make a big difference. 

 

A shared moment 

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This is more than a challenge. 

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It’s a chance for children to experience something many adults remember: 

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Life without constant distraction, time that feels slower, connection that is real. 

 

An invitation 

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For one week: 

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Put your phone down 
Look up and see what changes 

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Start your challenge here!  PEACE & MIND UK CIC (Brianna Ghey Legacy Project) | SuperKind