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Crowdfunder
Help prevent further avoidable death by suicide
Matty Sheldrick, with their dog Lola.
Content warning: suicide
Matty Sheldrick
Matty Sheldrick was a beloved family member – a creative with a kind and gentle soul and a passion for social justice. In 2021 they moved to Brighton and Hove, in a quest to find comfort and community among a thriving music and arts scene.
On the night of 4 November 2022, Matty attempted suicide and died from their injuries a few weeks later, aged 29.
Hours before Matty’s attempt, medical professionals had decided not to detain them for treatment under the Mental Health Act – despite having had contact with Matty through months of turmoil, which included another suicide attempt earlier that day.
An inquest into Matty’s death later this year will explore what happened.
The inquest
When someone dies by suspected suicide, a coroner holds an inquest to establish how, where and when the person died. In cases where a public body had obligations relevant to the person’s death, the inquest may become an “Article 2” inquest, which will look more widely at the circumstances of the person’s death.
The outcome
The Clare Project wants an Article 2 inquest to be held so that the circumstances of Matty’s death are properly explored and understood, and their loved ones get answers.
The Clare Project also hopes that the Coroner will issue a report to prevent future deaths, to try to prevent other people from being failed in similar ways.
- In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie.
- This crowdfunder was amended on 17 December 2024 to remove details of Matty’s death in line with our policy on reporting suicide and to add a link to resources where people can get help.
Details
The Clare Project is Sussex’s community-led support charity for trans, non-binary and intersex adults. Matty was a regular attendee and commissioned designer for the charity. Alongside Matty’s family and friends, The Clare Project’s team made relentless efforts to get Matty the help they needed.
The Clare Project has been granted “interested person” status in the inquest. This means they will be able to see the documents and witness statements that the Coroner will consider, as well as putting forward its own evidence and questioning witnesses.
The Clare Project have instructed Good Law Practice, an independent law firm supported by Good Law Project. The Practice has offered to act on rates equivalent to “legal aid” rates, which constitute a discount of approximately 75% on its full rates for a senior lawyer. They have also instructed Sophie Walker, a barrister at One Pump Court, who has generously agreed to act pro bono.
Good Law Project is also providing support by running this crowdfunder.
Ultimately, The Clare Project wouldn’t be able to fight Matty’s corner without this wealth of experience and support.
Any surplus funds raised will be used by The Clare Project to support its other charitable work.
If you are struggling, please consider contacting one of the following organisations:
Papyrus: support for young people
Hopeline: 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans:
Phone: 116 123
Crowdfunder updates
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03/06/2024
Following a pre-inquest review hearing on 29 May, it has been confirmed that Matty's inquest will be held on 1–9 July 2024.
The Clare Project now has permission to file a more detailed witness statement in advance of the inquest, setting out both the events leading up to Matty’s death in November 2022 and – crucially – Matty’s struggles to access appropriate health and social care support from early 2022, which contributed to the deterioration of their mental health. The Clare Project will also give oral evidence at the hearing.
The Coroner will wait until she has heard all of the evidence before deciding whether this is an “Article 2” inquest – that is, an inquest involving an arguable breach of the state’s obligation to protect the right to life in Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. She will conduct an Article 2 compliant inquest in the meantime, however, meaning that the inquest will be able to delve more broadly than it otherwise would have into the broader circumstances of Matty’s death.
The Clare Project continues to instruct Good Law Practice and Sophie Walker of One Pump Court.
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09/07/2024
The inquest began – but it’s been adjourned
Matty’s inquest opened on 1 July 2024. Over the first two days, the Coroner heard a statement from Matty’s mum, and evidence from Matty’s GP, which highlighted the gaps in provision for people in mental health crisis. The Coroner also began hearing evidence from the professionals involved in the Mental Health Act assessment on 4 November 2022, which led to a decision not to detain Matty in hospital shortly before they hung themself.
Having heard the evidence, the Coroner considered that one of the witnesses needed the opportunity to take legal advice, and unfortunately the inquest had to be adjourned to facilitate that.
A further pre-inquest review hearing will be held on 27 August 2024. The inquest will then conclude in the weeks commencing 24 November and 9 December 2024.
The Clare Project continues to instruct Good Law Practice, alongside Sophie Walker and Liam Evans of One Pump Court.
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09/01/2025
The inquest has concluded – we welcome the coroner’s findings
The inquest into Matty’s death concluded just before Christmas 2024, and the coroner’s findings reveal a catalogue of systemic failings. Matty fell victim to these failings, exacerbated because they were both autistic and a member of the trans and non-binary community. Neurodivergent people, particularly those who are autistic, don’t have access to adequate mental health support anyway, but that access is further reduced for those who are also members of the trans and non-binary community, and that has to change.
But there were some positive outcomes from the inquest. The prevention of future deaths report raised concerns about the lack of suitable provision for autistic and/or trans and non-binary patients struggling with mental health, in addition to the depletion of local funding for voluntary sector organisations providing desperately needed psychosocial support.
Thanks to your support, our partners at The Clare Project were able to contribute to what became a proper Article 2 inquest, which means the findings will do more to prevent similar tragedies happening in the future. The money you contributed to this crowdfunder went towards covering The Clare Project’s legal costs.
Nothing can obscure the sadness of losing Matty, but we’re glad that Matty’s loved ones and the public can see how badly Matty was let down.
This crowdfunder is now closed.
Thanks to your support, £2,647.80 was raised towards The Clare Project’s legal costs.
If you’d like to support our general work, you can do so here: