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Family gets 'bittersweet' award after son's death

Jack Valpy,in Graveshamand
Joshua Askew,South East
Supplied A mother and her son. They are embracing. The mother has long blonde hair and is wearing a pink sparkly cowboy hat. The boy is wearing a black suit and a tartan hatSupplied
Kerry lost her son Elliott when he was 19 years old

The founders of a Kent-based initiative have described feeling "very emotional" after receiving the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the country.

King Charles handed the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund a King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) for transforming mental health support for young people in Gravesham.

The fund - named after a 19-year-old man who took his own life in 2020 - has helped more than 700 teenagers access face-to-face counselling services.

Vicky Bridger said she saw a counsellor within a fortnight thanks to the initiative, having been told it would take years to get mental health support on the NHS.

"There is an epidemic of young people struggling with their mental health," she told the BBC.

"I didn't want to leave my house [or] go to school. I was struggling to maintain friendships and relationships.

"That support [from the fund] was completely invaluable. It saved my life."

Two other Kent-based organisations - Keep Talking Services and the Pegasus Playscheme - also received King's Awards for their services.

'Elliott would be proud'

Elliott Holmes' mother Kerry, who set up the fund with her partner Peter Scutts, described its success as "a great comfort".

"We've helped loads of young people," she said. "It's been amazing."

Handout A teenager sat next to a computer screen. He has fair hair and a is wearing a dark hoodie. He is smiling at the camera.Handout
Elliott Holmes took his own life in 2020

Holmes told the BBC she cried when she found out they had won the King's Award, which is described by KAVS as "the MBE for volunteer groups".

"Elliott would be so proud – he'd be loving all the attention up there," she said.

"I feel very emotional about it. It means so much."

An older man and woman. He is wearing a pastel blue shirt. She is wearing a long-sleeved brown jumper. Behind them is a Christmas tree.
Kerry and Peter set up the fund after Elliott's death

However, Holmes added that her son's death had completely changed her as a person.

"Losing a child is the worst possible thing any parent can go through," she said.

"I cannot put it into words."

Elliott's stepfather Scutts added setting up and managing the fund - which pays for young people to have private counselling - had helped them through their grief.

"I think the word bittersweet sums it up," he added.

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