Bates Solicitors Sponsor The Matthew Elvidge Trust

13.1 Miles for Matthew

199     Athletes signed up to run the Fleet Half Marathon 16 March 2014 in memory  of Matthew Elvidge and in support of the Matthew Elvidge Trust.

23    years old, Matthew, having successfully completed a degree course and 1 day  before he was due to start work in London old took his life after a short  period of depression.

16 – 34 year old men were more likely to die from suicide than a road traffic accident  according to the Office of National Statistics  and in 2011 suicide was the  highest single cause of deaths in young men.    Predictions indicate that this  silent epidemic will worsen.

2014    Bates Solicitors support and sponsor The Matthew Elvidge Trust providing  running shirts and event funding for the Fleet Half Marathon.   As a well  established race, many top athletes regard this race as a warm up for the  London Marathon.

6045  suicides in 2011 alone, inevitably means that in one way or another many  people are touched by this tragedy.

2010The Matthew Elvidge Trust was set up with key objectives of raising  awareness of depression in young people, equipping and training others to  identify young people who may need support, to actively help young people  suffering from depression and reduce the stigma of depression.

The  Matthew Elvidge Trust website has full details of their work including at  Government level and in universities.   Join Bates Solicitors in supporting their  work.  Visit http://thematthewelvidgetrust.com/

Alex Hamilton, Lord Wandsworth College, first Matthew Elvidge Trust runner to cross the Finish Line.

Bo Nightingale March 2014

On Wednesday 26th March 2014, Bates Solicitors proudly supported The Matthew Elvidge Trust by hosting a concert featuring The Angell Piano Trio and operatic bass, Matthew Rose. The concert featured the premiere of Martin Suckling’s ‘Songs from a bright September’ and guests at the concert were privileged to be able to hear Martin introduce his work, which he composed specifically for the Trio and Matthew. The concert programme also included works which enabled all members of the Trio and Mr Rose to showcase their musical talents including Four Serious Songs by Brahms, works by Bohuslav Martinu and by Hugo Wolf. The evening finished with a lively composition by Felix Mendelssohn which reunited the trio on stage for a fitting finale. During the course of the concert, Mr Hamish Elvidge of The Matthew Elvidge Trust spoke movingly about the family’s decision to set up The Matthew Elvidge Trust shortly after Matthew took his own life aged just 23, after a very short period of anxiety and depression. Mr Elvidge spoke about the work that the Trust funds including the Beachy Head Chaplaincy team and work on university campuses. The evening finished with a collection in aid of the Trust and £1,000.00 was raised. The firm looks forward to continuing their support of The Matthew Elvidge Trust.