Matthew was my younger brother, but in so many ways, he inspired me. He was known for having a huge heart. He was fearless, confident and completely himself — and growing up, he was one of the reasons I wanted to become more confident too. After we left the care system, life wasn’t always easy. Matthew fell in with the wrong crowd and eventually went to prison. But that was never the end of his story. When he came home, he changed his life. Becoming a father to his beautiful son Kayla and his daughter Pixie gave him a new sense of purpose. I watched my brother turn things around, and he showed me that your past does not have to define your future.

 

Tragically, on Father’s Day in 2019, Matthew suddenly passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. Losing him changed my life forever. But I don’t want Matthew’s story to end with the day we lost him. I want the world to know who he was — his heart, his fearlessness, his journey, his mistakes, his growth and the person he became.

That is why I created the Matthew Ryan Second Chance CIC. This is bigger than an organisation. It is Matthew’s legacy. Through his name, his story and everything he taught me, we are going to give young people the second chances, guidance and opportunities that so many of us never had.

Matthew changed my life  and now, together, we’re going to use his legacy to help change thousands more.