Award for dads campaigning for suicide awareness

Three men who campaign for suicide awareness after their daughters took their own lives have won an award.

Andy Airey, from Morland in Cumbria, Mike Palmer, from Sale in Greater Manchester, and Tim Owen, from Shouldham in Norfolk, launched a petition calling for suicide prevention to be made a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

It gained more than 160,000 signatures and led to a parliamentary debate.

Mr Airey, whose daughter Sophie died shortly before Christmas 2018, aged 29, said the award was "recognition for doing something that was making a difference".

"It's really odd because we didn't chose to be part of this suicide prevention journey," he said.

"But having our work recognised is a pat on the back, and encouragement to keep going."

A ceremony in Parliament on Monday saw the 3 Dads Walking Campaign win the Petitioner of the Year Award.

The award ceremony was part of UK Parliament week, which is a series of events to help showcase what Parliament is and how it works.

The group first began campaigning after their daughters took their own lives.

The men, who did not previously know each other, have completed multiple fundraising walks for the charity Papyrus in memory of their daughters Sophie, Beth and Emily.

Mr Palmer, whose daughter Beth died at the age of 17, said the accolade was "bittersweet".

"The thought of other families going through the grief we've gone through is so hard," he said.

"If you teach suicide prevention in schools, in an age appropriate and sensitive manner, the kids absolutely absorb it.

"It gives them life skills to keep themselves safe, and also other kids safe."

Other winners announced at the UK Parliament Week Awards event included:

• UK Parliament Week Champion of the Year Award: KAHO UK

• MPs’ Choice - Constituency Champion of the Year Award: Mark North – Freedom Community Project

• UK Parliament Week Constituency of the Year Award: Chorley

Speaker of the House of Commons and MP for Chorley Sir Lindsay Hoyle said 2023 had seen the "greatest number of people ever taking part in UK Parliament Week".

He praised the campaigners who "launched online petitions to get critical issues debated in the Commons, such as protecting children from harm, preventing suicide, and making allergy labelling a legal requirement".

If you have been affected by any of these issues, you can visit the BBC's Action Line.

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