There’s something special about a business that chooses to mark its milestone achievements by lifting others up. This weekend Black Nova Designs celebrated a decade of growth and innovation, and what unfolded was more than a typical corporate anniversary party. Coming just days after World Mental Health Day on 10th October, the timing felt particularly poignant.
Seventy friends, clients, and colleagues gathered for an evening that captured beautifully what happens when business success intertwines with genuine social purpose. The dress to impress theme set the tone for an occasion that combined celebration, networking, and entertainment whilst spotlighting two powerful stories of human resilience and compassion.
A Decade of Digital Innovation
Black Nova Designs has spent ten years establishing itself as a trusted provider of web design and IT services. What makes this company special isn’t just its technical expertise – it’s the heart behind their business.
Co-founder Kyle Holmes understands what it feels like to struggle without support. Recently, in a media interview he shared that throughout the first 23 years of his life, he didn’t have anyone to turn to when times were tough. This lived experience shaped the ethos of his business. As Black Nova Designs reached this milestone, he made a deliberate choice: to use the celebration as a platform for Best Mates, a charity doing extraordinary work in mental health support.
Best Mates – WeGotYa
Best Mates is a charity born from personal tragedy and transformed into a lifeline for others. With World Mental Health Day having just taken place, the focus on mental health support felt especially timely.
Co-founders Carl McCulloch and Jeff Tucker launched Best Mates in November 2022 after Jeff’s son was attacked, leaving him suffering from PTSD and depression. Traditional support channels proved inadequate, revealing a critical gap: when people need help, they need it from someone who truly understands.
Best Mates operates on a simple concept: matching individuals facing difficult situations with a mate – someone who has walked a similar path and can offer empathetic support without judgement. Their mission statement says it all: To be your Best Mate whenever you need one, with the heartfelt strapline WeGotYa.
The charity supports people dealing with mental health challenges, redundancy, financial difficulties, addiction, illness, and grief. What makes Best Mates special is the lived experience component. You’re connecting with someone who has lived it, survived it, and learned from it. That shared understanding creates a unique foundation for healing and growth.
Jamie McAnsh – A Masterclass in Unstoppable Resilience
The evening’s guest speaker, Jamie McAnsh, delivered a presentation that left no one untouched. His story stops you in your tracks and shifts your perspective on what’s possible.
January 2014 marked a flashpoint moment in Jamie’s life. He woke up paralysed, diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. For most people, such a diagnosis would signal an ending. For Jamie, it became a beginning.
He became the first person with CRPS to reach Mount Everest base camp on crutches. In 2024, he summited Mount Kilimanjaro as the first person with Bilateral CRPS to reach the top. His achievements include completing 12 extreme challenges in 12 months, raising £250,000 for charity, becoming the first disabled player to compete in the Welsh Open Squash Tournament, and completing the WAAT4 Challenge as the first wheelchair user to trek 30 kilometres across the Brecon Beacons.
But Jamie’s resilience extends beyond physical achievements. He has also survived cancer and supported his mother through a brain tumour diagnosis. Throughout these challenges, he battled anxiety and depression, at times feeling like a burden to those around him. Today, these experiences fuel his advocacy for mental health and resilience.
His message is simple yet profoundly powerful: always Get Back Up. Life will knock you down, but the power to rise again lives within each of us.
An Evening of Impact
The event brought together inspirational speakers, lovely music, delicious food and networking, alongside fundraising activities. The atmosphere was one of genuine celebration – not just of business success, but of the power of community, resilience, and human connection.
Danielle and Kyle Holmes’ decision to centre their company’s milestone celebration around mental health support speaks volumes. The parallel stories of Best Mates and Jamie McAnsh remind us that we all face challenges. What makes the difference is having people in our corner – whether that’s someone who has walked your path before or a community that refuses to let you face your struggles alone.
Looking Forward
For anyone facing difficult times, Best Mates offers a lifeline. Whether you’re struggling with mental health, grief, financial difficulties, or addiction, you don’t have to face it alone. The charity’s promise is simple: WeGotYa. Someone who understands, someone who has been there – that person exists, and Best Mates can connect you with them.
For those inspired by Jamie’s story, remember: your circumstances don’t define your potential. No matter how many times life knocks you down, you have the power to get back up.
As I often say, never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction. Each moment is a new beginning – and this evening proved it beautifully.
Resources
Black Nova Designs
Celebrating 10 years of web design, hosting, and IT services
Website: blacknovadesigns.co.uk
