About
Meet Barry Martin
Barry Martin was first and foremost a devoted father, loving husband and loyal friend. He was also a respected firefighter whose commitment to serving others reflected the kindness he showed every day. Before he became the inspiration behind a Foundation, he was the kind of person who made people laugh, cared deeply for those around him, and loved nothing more than spending time with his family. He was a gentleman, an adventurer and treasured every moment with Oliver and Daniel.
Barry believed in helping others, worked hard, loved to laugh and treasured his family above all else. The values that shaped his life - kindness, courage, compassion and service - continue to shape the work of the Foundation today.
"When Barry died in 2023, our world changed forever.
Out of unimaginable loss came a promise: to create something that would help other children and families navigate grief with hope, compassion, and courage.
The Barry Martin Foundation is that promise."
- Shelley Martin
Continuing Barry's Legacy
A note from his wife and children
"Barry was the heart of our family.
The life we built together became the foundation for everything that followed.
In the face of unimaginable loss, we made the decision that Barry's legacy would continue to make a difference through the way we chose to move forward. Not simply by remembering his life, but by living the values he inspired in us every day.
What began as one family's determination to create something positive from profound grief has grown into a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved children, strengthening families and creating lasting change across Scotland.
Every resource we create, every child we support and every project we develop is inspired by the values Barry lived by, compassion, courage, service and love.
Through books, comfort bears, community initiatives, advocacy and education, we hope his legacy continues to bring comfort, hope and understanding to families who need it most.
Today, Barry's legacy lives on through every project, every partnership and every family we have the privilege of supporting. We invite you to explore our work and become part of that journey. "