We are launching this page on Andrew Gidney's 23rd Birthday.

Andrew was a young man at his prime, just finishing a degree course in computing at Edge Hill University, when he suffered a depression that ended with him taking his own life in January 2019. He was a creative, intelligent and very caring young man much loved by many friends and family. He loved drawing and at one point considered architecture as a career. His love of computing took precedence though, and he became a whizz at designing computer games effortlessly leading teams of other students in producing fun animations. Andrew was heading for a first class degree in computing after being one of the team and authors of a paper on AI face recognition. He was an animal lover, from a child lovingly cuddling his many teddies and later dogs and great big bear hugs for friends and family. He built his own air-cooled computer and helped friends with the building of theirs.

Andrew was a great fan of the outdoors, walking and training on the hills of Saddleworth, Pots and Pans being a favourite, and completing the 21 mile route of the 9 Edges Challenge two years in a row with his dad. He was a very keen chef, enjoying cooking meals for the family, cakes and puddings for friends and sharing a passion for sharing new recipes with his mum. His love of music and live events was shared by his brother, Chris; he has very fond memories of them travelling together to London to go to an Above and Beyond rave party and after-party at Finsbury Park during the summer before we lost him. Chris has a ticket for the same concert this year, happening post lockdown, and we're sure it'll strongly remind him of Andrew.

Andrew didn't have a history of mental illness and his depression seemed to come on very quickly. We, his friends and family, were concerned about him and didn't appreciate how depressed he had become in such a short time of 3 or 4 months. It was difficult to tell when it began and why. His loss was likely to have been prevented with a decrease in stigma, easier and acceptable access to medical services.

We have been left with a big hole in our lives. For the last couple of years we have been trying to find a way forward without Andrew, his quirky smile and his great big bear hugs. He was a massively lovely person with a huge heart and we miss him dreadfully.

We feel that now is the time to start doing good for our local youths in his name. We wish to benefit projects in the area that he grew up in, Saddleworth, and hopefully support other youths to live their lives to the full. In particular we wish to support projects that encourage creativity, computing skills and mental wellbeing in young people, as these subjects were dear to Andrew's heart.

Public Mental Health Services, to date, offer support up until a child is 16. After their birthday a youth is seen as an adult and enters a world of poorly supported services. A human brain continues to develop throughout childhood and only fully matures at around about the age of 25. There is a 9 year window from 16 to 25 when our children are deemed adult although they are still maturing. In essence our children are still wearing 'training wheels', wobbling in an adult world, having to cope with major changes in their lives such as going to university or college, managing to cater and care for themselves as well as getting to lectures and tutorials, securing a job and maybe even having their own children. Any projects that could help to support youths with any of these pressures are very welcome to approach us.

All monies that are kindly donated are collected by the newly formed Andrew Gidney Foundation and will be available to encourage and support local projects that will benefit youths. The Andrew Gidney Foundation is a CIO that is waiting registration by the Charity Commission. The Foundation involves 9 trustees including close friends and family, to date. We have approached supportive professionals and are awaiting their consent to join us.

If you feel you need to talk to someone or need further support please ring the Samaritans on 116 123 , text SHOUT to 85258 ( a text support line), contact your GP and insist on an early appointment or call 111.

Find out more about our Foundation and projects on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewGidneyFoundation or search The Andrew Gidney Foundation.