Brenda Edwards, the beloved Loose Women panellist, has spoken candidly about the profound grief and "scary" passage of time since the tragic death of her son, Jamal Edwards, as she marked the four-year anniversary by inaugurating a new community hub in his memory. The emotional opening of the Self Belief Creative Community Hub in west London on Friday, 20 February 2026, coincided with the anniversary of Jamal's passing, who died on 20 February 2022 at the age of 31.
A Legacy of Self-Belief and Community
Established by Brenda Edwards and her daughter Tanisha Artman shortly after Jamal's untimely death, the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust is dedicated to fostering community cohesion and supporting young people. Brenda described the launch as an "amazing feeling," emphasising that the trust has been "absolutely pivotal" and a "driving force" in helping her navigate the immense sorrow of losing her son.
"The fact that I know I'm trying to carry on his legacy to help young people is an amazing feeling," Brenda shared. "I'm literally transforming what he was doing and what he wanted me to address, which was helping young people and bringing everybody together as a community."
Navigating Grief and Finding Strength
Reflecting on the four years since Jamal's death, Brenda admitted, "It's really quite scary to think that it's four years this Friday. There's not a day that I obviously don't speak to him in my mind. I really feel his presence, and that really helps me. It's really hard every day. But I know he is watching saying: 'Come on, mummy, come on.'"
Jamal Edwards rose to fame after founding the influential music platform SBTV in 2006, credited with launching the careers of numerous UK music acts such as Dave, Jessie J, and Ed Sheeran. He was also an ambassador for the Prince's Trust and received an MBE in 2014 for his services to music. Brenda fondly remembered her son as "very selfless" and "always thinking of others," noting that his altruism brought him great joy and taught her valuable lessons.
The Self Belief Creative Community Hub
The new hub, located on the housing estate in Acton where Jamal grew up, is designed as a space "dedicated to empowering young people" and helping them "build their futures." According to the trust, it will host a programme of events focused on creativity, wellbeing, life skills, and employability. Facilities include music and podcast studios, co-working spaces, and a subsidised kitchen offering daily meals.
Brenda revealed that Jamal conceived the idea for the hub "the year before he became forever 31," and everything she is doing is based on a "letter of wishes" he left with his will. She called this letter a "guiding force," explaining, "In the letter, he said that he wanted young people to be at the forefront of everything that I do. His whole mantra was self-belief. That legacy will always remain, and people will always be speaking about him and know of him as somebody that wanted to bring communities together."
A Bittersweet Full Circle Moment
Returning to Jamal's childhood neighbourhood for the hub's opening made Brenda feel "so close" to him, describing it as "totally full circle." She added, "It was really weird. It's a major feeling. Bittersweet, because I know he would have wanted to see this in fruition, but I get the strength from the fact that I know that he's there and he's watching."
This heartfelt initiative not only honours Jamal Edwards' memory but also serves as a testament to his enduring impact on music and community, ensuring that his spirit of self-belief continues to inspire future generations.
