Bereaved mum using TikTok to educate on life insurance

A mum whose partner died in a freak jet ski accident is using TikTok to educate people about life insurance after she was forced to go back to work during maternity leave.

Charlotte Lescott, 32, Ali Watson, 28, and their newborn baby Soulie had relocated from Birmingham to Dubai in December 2020.

During their first day trip, the family went on a boat with friends which had the option of renting jet skis.

But while in the water, Mr Watson collided with the instructor and died on impact.

“I helped him put on his life jacket then said my last words to him, which was 'love you, please be safe'," said Ms Lescott, who now lives in Tamworth.

“Then my whole world came crashing down."

After returning to the UK, she discovered their life insurance had expired three months before and that Mr Watson did not have a will.

It meant Ms Lescott had to return to her job as an administrative worker during maternity leave, four months after losing the love of her life.

“He was the breadwinner and I was on maternity. There was so much pressure so I went back to work so soon."

She added: “I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.

"Ali was such a fit, healthy man, so energetic, he kept our family together.

"He was like the glue of everything and I just couldn’t ever imagine at that point that he wouldn’t be in my life."

She is now using TikTok to promote financial awareness, with more than 240,000 followers and 17 million likes on her videos.

Ms Lescott said she got thousands of messages from predominantly young people, saying they had no idea what life insurance was.

"Since I have been sharing my story, so many people have said they didn’t even think of life insurance and have taken a policy out."

She added: “For me it’s just so important to have these memories that I’ve documented on social media, but I’ve also now got the platform to educate others and keep his memory alive.

"I love being able to show his personality and his character through the content.”

Michael Shepherd, from Peak Life Financial Planning in Birmingham, said financial awareness should be taught in schools.

“There just is not enough education at school. It should, I think, be part of the school curriculum," he said.

“You’ve got to get local and central government on board with that sort of stuff and it’s not really happening.”

The Department for Education said financial education formed part of the National Curriculum with budgeting and financial products and services included.

It said a review by education experts would "consider how to ensure young people get the opportunity to access a broad and balanced curriculum, as well as the crucial work and life skills necessary to succeed in both the workplace and throughout their lives".

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