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Mum's MBE for Digital Access Fight After Son's Death
30 Dec
Summary
- Mum awarded MBE for campaigning for child social media access post-death.
- Campaign sparked after her son Jools died in 2022, possibly in an online challenge.
- Proposed digital checks akin to toxicology reports in inquests.
Ellen Roome, a mother from Gloucestershire, has been awarded an MBE for her significant contributions to children's online safety and legal reform. Her advocacy centers on enabling parents to access their children's social media accounts after their death, a cause she championed following the tragic passing of her 14-year-old son, Jools Sweeney, in 2022.
Ms. Roome believes her son's death may have been linked to an online challenge, but remains unable to access his social media for potential answers. Her parliamentary petition has successfully prompted a debate and is expected to return to Parliament with hopes of Royal Assent by March. She envisions digital checks becoming a standard part of post-mortem examinations and inquests, similar to toxicology reports.
Alongside Ms. Roome, other notable Gloucestershire residents received honors, including Mary Hutton, appointed CBE for her extensive work with the NHS, and Professor David Main, awarded a British Empire Medal for his contributions to animal welfare research oversight. These recognitions highlight a range of impactful public service across the region.
