Our meeting with Rishi Sunak

On Tuesday 25th April we met the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Andy’s MP, Dr Neil Hudson, had raised our walks and campaign in a question he asked at Prime Minister’s Questions in February when he suggested that the PM should meet us – to our amazement the PM agreed.

We were delighted to hear that the PM would give us some of his very precious time and arrived at Downing Street prepared to get our points across as quickly and concisely as possible.

Video created by the Media Team at No 10 Downing Street

In the league table of surreal events that we’ve found ourselves in since we launched 3 Dads Walking this was right up at the top; it’s hard to comprehend where you are as you walk onto Downing Street after being vetted and allowed through security. Having seen the building and iconic front door so many times on TV, standing on the steps, knowing you were heading in to see the Head of Government was most bizarre.

On entering we were escorted through to the garden which was absolutely beautiful with the shrubs bursting with fresh leaves and blossom out in force. We were joined by Neil and he introduced us to the Prime Minister. The PM made us feel more than welcome in his back garden as he invited us to sit around a table where we were offered tea and cake(!).

He asked about our girls and how we got together and was interested to hear what we had learned as we walked across the country talking to other suicide-bereaved parents. It was obvious that, as well as being well briefed about us, he had taken the time to look at our website himself.

We explained how we had discovered PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide and through them founddiscussed the fact that suicide was the biggest killer of young people in the UK, higher that road traffic accidents, drugs and knife crime but we, as a society, aren’t talking to our young people about it. We talked about the age-appropriate suicide prevention lessons we have seen and pointed out that if this was part of the school curriculum, our young people would be better equipped to deal with the biggest risk in their lives and consequently lives would be saved. He didn’t disagree.

We told him that we had an invitation to meet Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education in May; the PM said that he would talk to her about our conversation and make sure our comments and suggestions were included in the newly started review of the RSHE curriculum.

Before the PM was whisked away we had chance to invite him to walk with us; he said he would if we passed through his Richmond constituency...looks like we’re going to have to plan another walk that passes through North Yorkshire!

As we left Downing Street we reflected on the meeting and all felt that the debate about introducing age-appropriate suicide prevention lessons had moved on. We’ve yet to find anyone who argues that it isn’t the right thing to do. Our next step happens next month when we meet Gillian Keegan.

Watch this space.

BBC Breakfast piece - 26th April 2023