Tributes to Kettering mum who founded solvent charity after teenage son's tragic death

A Kettering mother of four, who turned the tragic death of her son from solvent abuse into a successful national campaign, eventually earning her an MBE, has died at the age of 70.

Barbara Skinner, a trained nurse, founded charity Solve It after her 16-year-old schoolboy son Darren had died following what she later learnt to have been, four months of sniffing solvents.

In the years following Darren's death in 1988, Barbara threw herself into educating children about the dangers of volatile substance abuse (VSA).

In 1990, she married her second husband Alan and they worked together on the charity's work, going into schools to tell Darren's story.

In tribute to his late wife Alan said: "Barbara was a strong and determined woman. She began to turn the tragedy of Darren’s death into a campaign to educate young people and adults in the dangers of solvent abuse, although she had been retired from nursing due to a rare heart condition.

"Progress was slow at first as both schools and parents were unaware of volatile substance abuse and believed that ‘it did not happen in their areas’.

"Solvent abuse was virtually unknown before she came onto the scene, however Barbara was determined in her efforts and became founder of Solve It as a registered charity that became known nationally for its unique services, including a 24/7 helpline that Barbara maintained personally for users and anyone requiring support."

As the charity developed, most schools in the county included sessions on VSA from Solve It and Barbara continued to create awareness by training police cadets, giving radio and TV

interviews.

Working with Trading Standards and government committees she successfully campaigned for hazard warnings being placed on aerosol cans by manufacturers on the everyday products found in domestic homes.

In 2000, she received an MBE for her work warning children, parents, carers and professionals about the dangers of VSA.

Barbara was born in Liverpool in 1950, and moved to Wellingborough bringing up her young family and training as a nurse at Kettering General Hospital specialising in rehabilitation and care of elderly patients.

Daughter Diane died tragically at the age of 18 months which left the family devastated. Further tragedy hit with Darren's death.

Barbara continued to develop the charity nationally until she had to retire for health reasons in 2012 with her work being joined to charity Re-solv but soon returned to more campaigning.

She co-founded another charity, Evolve, near Liverpool with a former member of staff, to inform young people of the dangers of drugs and VSA.

She was chair of trustees until 2018 when increasing health problems caused her to step down although she remained an active trustee until late last year.

Barbara is survived by husband Alan, sons Paul and Jason, brother Ivor and her two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Alan added: "Barbara was meticulous in all that she did – if anything was done it had to be done properly. She always gave attention to detail and expected the same standards from others around her.

"She would want to be remembered as a family person who wanted other families to learn from her experience, and it's carrying on through Re-Solv and Evolve.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to be married to Barbara for 30 years and I wish to thank all hospital staff, doctors, district nurses and the Rocket Team for their care and attention throughout the years. Barbara was my best friend and soulmate and will remain in my heart forever."

Barbara's funeral service is to be held at the Albert Munn Chapel of Kettering Crematorium on Friday, January 15, at 3.30pm.

It is family flowers only but donations, if desired, for the British Heart Foundation may be made online at averilphillips.co.uk