Ruth Ellen Kelso, sister of Josh & Timmy; daughter of loving parents Kenneth & Sharon; passed away very suddenly on February 8th 2022 in her home apartment in Ballymena at the age of 23. 

Creativity was one of Ruth’s passions right the way through her short life - excelling in Art and Music in Ballyclare High School, before going on to complete a Media Productions course in Ballymena NRC, and then in recent years, running a very successful online vintage clothing business.

As a tribute to the memory of our lovely Ruth, we are setting up a Just Giving page to fund the work of Made for More. 

The Made for More team travels all over the country to let young people know that God created them for a purpose, that He wants a relationship with them, and that they are His masterpiece. This work is dedicated to the specific needs of young people today, addressing issues such as mental health, self-esteem and drug/alcohol dependencies. Made for More's aim is to engage a generation of young people in schools, churches, youth organisations and communities to educate and equip them with the knowledge needed to value who they are and help them have open discussions for a more positive future.

Spreading the word about this vital work is necessary to help young people who face mental health issues among young people Ruth’s age, and younger, across Northern Ireland.

We feel the need is urgent: We want to see as many young people reached as we can, including primary school children.

• Depression is 25% more common in children and young people in Northern Ireland compared to other parts of the UK. (A recent study commissioned by the Health and Social Care Board)

• 50% of mental health problems are established by the age of 14

• Nearly 60% of young people in Northern Ireland feel “overwhelming pressure” from social media, while over half feel “inadequate” when comparing their life to their friends on social media. This often leads to poor self-esteem and impacts the mental health of those affected. (Prince’s Trust eBay Youth Index)

• More than a quarter of young people in Northern Ireland have said they feel unable to cope with life since the Covid crisis began. Also, nearly half (45%) of 16 to 25-year-olds here, say their mental health has got worse from the start of the pandemic. (Prince’s Trust report)

We thank you for taking the time to read this and hope that you will consider supporting this vital work.

The Kelso family and the Bingham family would like to thank all those who have supported them in thoughts, prayers, cards, and in many practical ways during this difficult time.