'I WILL SEE HIS LEGACY THROUGH'

Brenda Edwards on continuing her late son Jamal's vital work to empower young people

Two years on since Jamal Edwards’ tragic death – on 20 February 2022 – his mother, Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, alongside Jamal’s sister Tanisha and the trust named after him, announced three new social initiatives to carry on the late music entrepreneur’s remarkable legacy.

Brenda has been bravely working on the creation and launch of the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust (JESBT) after Jamal tragically passed at the tender age of 31.

The event, held in London’s Notting Hill, was attended by a sea of famous friends of Jamal and Brenda’s, including Loose Women star Linda Robson, EastEnders actor Colin Salmon, The Apprentice’s Tim Campbell and renowned music producer Naughty Boy, as well as community activists.

Jamal – who founded SBTV and helped launch the career of Ed Sheeran – will be the pioneering name behind a raft of new measures aimed at giving young people in the care system the chance of a ‘brighter future’.

Here, Brenda talks to Woman’s Own about keeping her son’s memory alive.

Where does your strength come from?

The fact my son was a doer and because I cannot I refuse to - not see his legacy through.

It's been a mission of mine ever since [his passing] and he E left wishes for me to carry on working with the homeless, [people] with mental health [issues] and the community, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.