On 14th August 2026, I experienced something no mum ever expects to face. I suddenly and devastatingly lost my beautiful son, Ashley. He was just 26 years old.

Ashley was a much loved son, brother, partner, daddy and friend. He had so much love around him and so much to live for. Since losing him, it has become even more apparent just how many lives he touched and how deeply he was loved.

Nothing can change what has happened. Nothing can make losing Ashley make sense. But his close friends and I desperately want something meaningful and lasting to grow from his life.

That is where Young Men Matter begins.

Young Men Matter is being created in Ashley's memory, with its roots in Maidstone and a focus across Kent.

Our focus will be young men through the first decade of adulthood, from the age of 18. It's a period of enormous change, with pressures around work, independence, relationships, money, housing, recreational drug use, physical and mental health, loss and simply finding your place in adult life.

There are already some amazing organisations working in mental health, addiction and suicide prevention. We don't want to duplicate what is already there.

We want to find the gaps and join the dots, reaching young men before they can even see a crisis coming.

Most importantly, Young Men Matter won't be built around what we think young men need. We want to listen to them, learn from their experiences and give them a real voice in shaping what comes next.

Built by young men, for young men.

This fundraiser will help us take those first steps.

You can find out more, follow our progress or get involved at youngmenmatter.org.uk.

Ashley will always be at the heart of Young Men Matter.

If something created because of him can one day reach another young man earlier, help him recognise when something isn't right, or help him find the support he needs, then that is the legacy we want to try to build for my son.

Young Men Matter.

In memory of Ashley. 💙