Young suicide prevention charity behind 3 Dads Walking closes after going into administration
Andy, Mike and Tim say the loss of crisis support line HOPELINE247 is a "wake-up call" for government
Last updated 9th Sep 2026
A national charity dedicated to preventing young suicide has gone into administration and closed with immediate effect, just two days before World Suicide Prevention Day.
PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide had run for almost 30 years, working through campaigning, education, training and direct support.
Its closure means the loss of HOPELINE247, a crisis support service for young people experiencing suicidal thoughts and for anyone worried about a young person.
The line was staffed by suicide prevention experts specifically trained to help people through moments of extreme crisis.
What's happened
Emma Mifsud and Charles Turner of Opus Restructuring & Insolvency have been appointed as Joint Administrators of the charity.
PAPYRUS said the appointment followed an extended and difficult period in which its trustees and senior management explored every available option to secure its future, including changes to its operating model, cost reductions and looking at whether services could be transferred to other organisations.
Despite those efforts, and against a backdrop of rising demand, increased trading costs and a reduction in reliable funding across the sector, the board concluded the charity could no longer continue operating.
The Joint Administrators said their focus would now be on managing the charity's affairs through the administration process and supporting an orderly closure.
They are also looking at whether any of PAPYRUS's services can be transferred to other organisations.
The 3 Dads Walking response
The charity has been at the heart of the 3 Dads Walking campaign, set up by Andy, Mike and Tim, who each lost a daughter to suicide.
Since 2021 they have walked more than 1,500 miles across the UK and raised over £1.5 million for suicide prevention.
In a statement, the three dads said the closure was "devastating news" and one of the hardest posts they had ever had to write.
They said HOPELINE247 was a unique, specialist, life-saving service that the NHS and CAMHS had relied on and signposted young people and families towards.
The three dads questioned why such a service had been left financially dependent on charitable fundraising, including money raised by bereaved parents.
"This is not simply the closure of another charity, it is the loss of a service that has been helping to keep young people alive," they said.
They added that the loss should be a wake-up call, saying: "Government needs to recognise that suicide prevention is not an optional extra. It is a public health responsibility."
The campaigners said the news had come as a shock and that they needed time to decide how they respond and move forward as 3 Dads Walking.
They also paid tribute to PAPYRUS staff and volunteers, and thanked everyone who had supported the charity over the years.
Support
Suicide remains the biggest killer of under-35s and of men under 50.
If you are worried about a young person, or need support yourself, help is available from a range of organisations, including the Samaritans on 116 123.