I am incredibly honoured and proud to be standing here today as the recipient of this Kingston Council Community Award.

On behalf of our grass roots charity It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, thank you.

First and foremost, I want to say a huge thank you to Blokes Psychology for nominating us. Your support means the world, and the work you do to support men’s mental health is powerful, necessary, and deeply respected.

This award acknowledges all the hard work of our volunteers, we have Georgia and Deb with us today, our board, my sisters, my father, my mother in law Colleen at home with my two daughters Arwen and Scarlette this is for you and why mummy works so hard and the It’s okay not to be okay community.

We are proud to be gifting grief packs, delivering mental health presentations, mental health rounds, wellbeing workshops and sponsored counselling.

We started our charity in honour of our brother Ben was just 22 when we lost him unexpectedly to suicide. Ben was a sports obsessed, loving father, a dedicated and hard working family man and a magnetic force who brought people together.

We hope It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, does the same, brings people together so they know that they aren’t alone, and they belong.

To the City of Kingston, Mayor Georgina Oxley, the Councillors, and everyone involved in the Community Awards thank you for shining a light on the work of grassroots organisations. Thank you for valuing the importance of mental health, and for celebrating the quiet strength of volunteers across our community.

To the other nominees thank you for what you do, this room is full of people who give so much of themselves to make Kingston a better place, and I’m proud to stand alongside you.

Finally, to anyone listening who might be struggling please know this you matter, you can overcome anything and it’s always okay not to be okay.

Thank you.