A GRIEVING mother is hoping to enlist help in creating a quilt to remember those who lost their lives to suicide.

Humshaugh resident Jayne Walsham is hoping to gather grieving friends and family members to create a quilt to remember their loved ones who they've lost due to suicide.

The aim is for each person to create a patch in memory of someone they have lost and to join it with others to make up the structure of the quilt.

Jayne came up with the idea after being inspired by The Speak Their Name memorial quilt started in Manchester in 2020, where 20 people bereaved to suicide each made a square in memory of a loved one lost to suicide. 

Yorkshire residents also adopted the initiative in 2022 followed by The North East Speak Their Name memorial quilt in 2023, which is on tour around the North East.

Jayne is hoping for a Northumberland quilt to have the same success.

Speaking about her own journey and why she wants to create the group, she said:" I lost my daughter Jodi to suicide in January 2021.

"Jodi was 23 years old and since losing Jodi, I now advocate for suicide prevention and Mental health awareness.

"I sit on the executive group, and I am community fund raising co-ordinator for Baton Of Hope UK, a charity started by Mike McCarthy after losing his son Ross to suicide in 2023.

"After seeing the other groups around the country, I started my own Northumberland Speak their name CIC recently to create a memorial quilt for people bereaved to suicide.

"Northumberland speak their name memorial quilt is looking for people who would like to be involved by making a square in memory of a loved one, a Friend or a colleague lost to suicide.

"You don't need any experience of sewing or crafting as we will be running a series of workshops across Northumberland over the coming months, to help you create your square.

"We hope to hold the launch in September 2024,

"If you are interested in joining and creating a patch, please contact Jayne Walsham Via email Jaynenorthumberlandstn@gmail.com  or FB."