The parents of two teenage boys who died from suicide are supporting a new sports initiative to help youngsters struggling with their mental health.

The Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund held the first Inter-Schools Wellbeing Trophy football match between two schools in Gravesham.

The mental health service was set up a year after Elliott Holmes, 19, passed away in June 2020, after struggling for several years with his mental health.

His stepdad Peter Scutts and mum Kerry were determined his legacy would be to help others and so far have given more than 200 youngsters in Gravesham access to fast and direct counselling.

The organisation aims to provide funding for one-to-one private talking therapy for vulnerable young people aged between 13 and 18 living in the borough.

It has now launched its new sports initiative to continue to raise awareness of the service.

Peter said: “We introduced the Elliott Holmes Memorial Trophy to encourage young people struggling with mental health issues to seek help by self-referring.

“Only 21% of our self-referrals are male, despite statistics showing they are more likely to take their own life.

“We need to explore different avenues to reach out to these young individuals.

“This initiative has proven to be an effective method of engaging with youth.”

More than 370 people turned up to watch the game between Gravesend Grammar and Thamesview School on Sunday, April 14, at Ebbsfleet United’s Kuflink Stadium in Stonebridge Road, Northfleet.

This included Elliott’s mum Kerry and Gemma Cayley-Smith, who lost her 15-year-old son Tristan to suicide in May.

They spoke to the players and wanted to emphasise the impact of suicide on families and the importance of letting youngsters know there is available support.

Before kick-off, a one-minute silence was also held to honour the memory of all the young lives recently lost to suicide in Gravesham.

Director of sport at Gravesend Grammar School, Mark Robinson, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to play at such a great venue and we are delighted to be part of a fantastic cause.”

Thamesview’s manager, Callum Lane, added: ”Thamesview was honoured to play in front of Tristian’s family who inspired all of the lads with their incredible words before kick-off.”

Ebbsfleet United legend Jimmy Jackson presented the trophy to Gravesend Grammar School who won the match 2-0.

Since setting up as a community interest company in 2022, the Elliott Holmes Memorial Fund has helped more than 200 youngsters with 68 young people referred for counselling services this year already.