Zachary Geddis Trust

04/06/2026

This Volunteers’ Week, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to every volunteer who supports The Zachary Geddis Trust, including our dedicated Board of Trustees. ♥️

From providing direct support to individuals and families, to helping behind the scenes, fundraising, governance, administration, and community engagement, your time, expertise and commitment make our work possible. 😊

The impact of our volunteers reaches far beyond the hours they give. Through your compassion, professionalism and belief in our mission, we are able to provide vital support to people across our communities when they need it most.

To our volunteers and trustees, thank you for the difference you make every day. Your dedication helps us continue building hope, resilience and brighter futures for those we serve.

♥️💞

01/06/2026

Zachary’s story has inspired change in so many lives ✨

Read about some of the ways our services have helped our young clients. Their stories showcase the very practical ways that our programmes equip young people to handle difficult emotions.

All of your donations to Cycle for Su***de 2026 help us continue this vital work. Thank you!

🔗 Donate here: https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/cycle-for-su***de-24-hour-cycle-challenge-2026

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29/05/2026

CYCLE FOR SU***DE - THROWBACK⌚
2022 - Our Cycle

In 2022, Yasmin and Terry set off on a journey together, 800 miles in 8 days from Coleraine to Malin Head to Mizen Head and home again.

8 months after the birth of Yasmins son, Zander it was a huge challenge that still gives her nightmares and she still can’t look at a bike properly 😆

But it was all for a worthwhile cause, we wanted a bigger location - a place to call home to what Zachary Geddis Trust is now and with the help of you all - we did it ♥️

In less than a month, Terry will be taking on his 6th cycling challenge for the Zachary Geddis Trust, and we are all behind him as he attempts to cycle from the top to the south of Ireland in 24 hours.

We would love to reach £10000 before Terry sets off and we are so close!
If you have the means to donate, our fundraising link is below:
https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/cycle-for-su***de-24-hour-cycle-challenge-2026

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28/05/2026

It was an absolute pleasure to be invited to visit Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust yesterday and meet with CEO Laura Shuttleworth and Music Therapy Manager Julie Allen.

Our shared passion for arts and creative therapies as a vital mental health intervention at all stages shown through. I was blown away to hear about the on the ground work that the whole team are doing right across Northern Ireland.

I am looking forward to where the next stage of this friendship takes us 😉

27/05/2026

WOMEN IN INSURANCE - CHARITY LUNCH ✨

On Friday 22nd May Amy had the privilege of attending the Women in Insurance Charity Lunch, where the Zachary Geddis Trust was honoured to be chosen as the beneficiary charity for a second year running.

It was a wonderful opportunity to speak about our Little Superstars Youth Service and the vital support we continue to provide for young people aged 5–17, despite the challenging context of rising mental health needs and ongoing funding pressures.

It was also lovely to reconnect with Rebecca McKinney, who Amy previously crossed paths with during our charity partnership with Moores last year. The conversation between Debbie and Rebecca was incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking, and there was such a strong sense of compassion and community throughout the afternoon.

Thank you to everyone who bought a raffle ticket or took the time to speak with Amy. Your encouragement and support truly make a difference. Together, we raised £2520!

A huge thank you to Cathy Scott, Joanne McAleer and Fiona Coulter for organising such a fantastic event and for choosing to partner with us again. Your ongoing support has such a meaningful impact on both our team and the children, young people, adults and families we work alongside.

26/05/2026

I welcome many of the proposals being discussed around children, social media and online safety, and I was pleased to contribute to the consultation process myself. Protecting children’s mental health has to remain a priority at all times.

That said, I do think we need to be careful not to blame social media for absolutely everything linked to poor mental health. The reality is much more complicated than that.

Personally, I believe what a child is drawn towards online often depends on how they are already feeling before they even start scrolling. If a young person is having a good day, feeling secure and positive, they are probably more likely to scroll past content that could bring them down. But if they are already struggling emotionally, the algorithm can very quickly feed into that by showing them more negative content, which can then impact their mood even further.

I think most adults can relate to this too. I know from my own experience that if I am having a bad day, I am far more likely to engage with negative content online, and once you do that, the algorithm keeps giving you more of it.

There absolutely needs to be stronger conversations around online safety, algorithms and the type of harmful content young people are exposed to. But recent findings coming out of Australia following their social media ban also suggest that banning access alone may not have the level of impact some expected, with many young people reporting little overall change six months later.

For me, this conversation has to go beyond simply restricting access. We also need to focus on emotional wellbeing, early intervention, resilience, family support and helping young people develop healthy coping skills long before they pick up a phone.

✨ Australian report source: The Conversation, 17th May 2026.
📱 UK-Wide Social Media Ban Consultation Deadline: The public consultation closes today, May 26th.
🔬What's Under Review: The government is assessing options ranging from outright age limits for social media to banning addictive platform features (like infinite scrolling) and mandatory overnight curfews for minors.

Supporters say a ban would help protect children online, but others argue it could have unintended consequences.

26/05/2026

A Message from Connor! 🎙️

A special message of support from Radio Ulster’s very own Connor Phillips ahead of Cycle for Su***de 2026 🚴‍♂️

Terry will soon begin a powerful 24-hour cycle across Ireland in memory of his son, Zachary. Every mile is dedicated to those affected by su***de, those who have lost loved ones, and those currently struggling with their mental health 💙

You can help make a difference by supporting Terry’s goal to raise funds for The Zachary Geddis Trust.

Every donation provides vital mental health support to those who need it most.
Donate here: https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/cycle-for-su***de-24-hour-cycle-challenge-2026

Thank you Connor

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BBC Radio Ulster

22/05/2026

GOOD LUCK LOUISE ⭐

Louise Boyle has set herself a challenge of running the Belfast City Women’s 10K on 21st June - and we are so proud to have been chosen as the charity she wishes to raise funds.

She has already smashed her target and any donation is appreciated to encourage her on the weeks leading up to the challenge!

Good luck Louise! We will all be cheering you on ♥️

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With a big change in life over the past 2 years I have been working on getting back to the old me. I am attempting a 10km run on 21st June to push myself and decided to use the opportunity to raise mo

20/05/2026

CYCLE FOR SU***DE - THROWBACK⌚
2020 - The Lockdown Cycle

In 2020, Terry decided to cycle around Ireland once again to raise vital funds for the Zachary Geddis Trust. This time was different, due to the restrictions in place we were never sure if the world would lock up again and he would have to return home. But, we were lucky enough with quieter roads and a mission, to light up around Ireland in 11 days.

Terry always cycles in Zachary's shoes which are a size 11 - he believes that they keep him safe on his journey and are a reminder that Zachary is always with him.

In less than a month, Terry will be taking on his 6th cycling challenge for the Zachary Geddis Trust, and we are all behind him as he attempts to cycle from the top to the south of Ireland in 24 hours.

We would love to reach £10000 before Terry sets off. If you have the means to donate, our fundraising link is below:
https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/cycle-for-su***de-24-hour-cycle-challenge-2026

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19/05/2026

THE MAINE GROUP SUPPORTS THE CYCLE FOR SU***DE 2026 🤝

Yasmin, our CEO, was delighted to sign a 1-year charity partnership with .group and speak across all of their sites last week.
The partnership has had a great response and shows exactly what can be done when local businesses support local charities.

Kyle and Kerry have been instrumental in promoting our organisation and we are incredibly grateful for their support.

Of course they are supporting the 2026 Cycle for Su***de 😍
We would love to reach the £10,000 mark before Terry sets off on his massive journey on Friday 19th June for 24 hours as he attempts to cycle from the top to the bottom of Ireland. You can donate here:
https://zgbtst.enthuse.com/cf/cycle-for-su***de-24-hour-cycle-challenge-2026