OUR STORY
2017 – The Beginning of a Vision
The seeds of The Martin Gallier Project were sown following the tragic loss of Martin Gallier to suicide. Determined to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak, his daughter, Jessica Gallier-Booth, began to lay the foundations for a new kind of suicide prevention service — one grounded in lived experience, empathy, and immediate support with no clinical criteria, barriers to access or waiting lists.
2019 – Official Launch
The Martin Gallier Project officially opened its doors, becoming the first dedicated suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention charity of its kind in the UK. The service was designed to offer immediate, non-clinical, barrier-free support to those in suicidal crisis.
2020 – A Lifeline Through Crisis
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for crisis support surged. Despite national uncertainty, the team continued to operate from the high street, offering face-to-face and telephone interventions and standing firm in their commitment to saving lives.
2021 – Growing Recognition and Reach
Our evidence-based model and unique approach gained widespread recognition. The number of life-saving suicide interventions exceeded 20,000, and the charity deepened its roots within the local community and beyond.
February 2022 – NHS Partnership Established
A major milestone was achieved through a formal partnership with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), following a successful 6-month pilot. This allowed for direct referrals from NHS crisis teams, improving access to timely, lifesaving support.
2023 – Innovation and Impact
The charity continued to evolve, introducing new postvention services including one-to-one bereavement support, peer-led groups, and specialist workshops developed by those with lived experience. The project became a lifeline not just in moments of crisis, but throughout recovery.
Due to the increased demand for the service and the growing partnership with the NHS, The Martin Gallier Project opened the doors to its second office, enabling people to access face-to-face support now in both Wirral and Chester.
2024 – Expansion Across the Region
The CWP referral pathway was expanded across the entire CWP footprint, enabling anyone aged 16+ in a self-defined suicidal crisis to be referred directly into The Martin Gallier Project for immediate support with no waiting lists, no barriers, in Wirral, Chester, Crewe, and Macclesfield.
2025 – Over 41,000 Interventions Delivered
Now a nationally recognised and award winning model of best practice in suicide intervention, The Martin Gallier Project has delivered over 41,000 life-saving interventions and continues to work towards a future where suicide is no longer the leading cause of death for so many, and continues to educate schools, companies, and individuals in their bid to make suicide everybody’s business, whilst creating a suicide safer community.
Looking Ahead
As we grow, our mission remains the same: to provide compassionate, immediate support to anyone affected by suicide. We’re here for the people who need us today, and for the futures we’re helping to protect every day.