Background
In April 2022, my world changed forever when my daughter, Evelyn, died by suicide. Supporting her through years of mental health struggles, and surviving the devastation of losing her, has transformed me in ways I never could have anticipated.
It is now the driving force behind everything I do.
Evelyn was 15: bright, funny, creative, and loved beyond measure.
Losing her shattered my world, but it also reshaped my purpose.
Alongside my lived experience, I have nearly two decades of professional experience in local government. As a Democratic Services manager, I specialised in governance, policy and engagement, gaining a clear understanding of how organisations operate, how decisions are made, and how systems can either support or unintentionally silence the people they serve. That foundation now shapes all of my work.
Since Evelyn’s death, I have worked with schools, NHS trusts, charities, and national organisations to integrate lived experience into policy development, service design and strategic decision‑making.
Today, I use my lived experience to help organisations, professionals, and communities build kinder, more connected, more human systems of support. My work centres on youth mental health and suicide prevention, driven by the hope that no other family will face the experiences we did.
I advocate for families to be listened to, for young people to be understood, and for professionals to feel equipped to communicate with sensitivity and care.
Alongside this work, I am also the co‑founder of Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect, created with my husband, Jack, in Evelyn’s memory. Through this initiative, we promote kindness, social connection, and positive change around mental health; reminding people that small actions can create big change. A single moment of compassion, a gentle check‑in, a kind word, or a simple act of noticing can ripple outwards in ways we may never fully see.
This project is our way of carrying Evelyn's light forward, encouraging communities to choose kindness, strengthen connection, and help shape a world where no young person feels alone.
