On Saturday, 20 August 2022, the free Ruben’s Voice concert took place on the Ketwell Lane field at Hedon Primary School.
The event attracted hundreds of families enjoying the free entertainment and supporting the charity stalls between 1pm and 10pm. 18-year-old Ruben Ferrol tragically took his own life in April 2021. This is the second annual free concert, and while it certainly remembered and celebrated Ruben’s life, like the first concert it also served a wider purpose in raising awareness of teenage suicide. Ruben’s mum Katy Smith and the other organisers are striving to ensure that other young people can learn from what happened to Ruben.
One of the key speakers at the event was Jo Kent, a Suicide Prevention Programme Lead with the NHS. Jo spoke about the ‘Talk Suicide Campaign’ and the easy-access training available, which enables people to spot the signs of someone who may be feeling suicidal and to be able to refer them to the correct support services.
One of the eleven performers giving her time free of charge was Em Taylor, a friend of Ruben, and now enjoying singing covers of popular songs in his memory.