Family whose son died from allergic reaction campaign for Benedict’s Law in NI
The mother of a five-year-old boy who died after suffering an allergic reaction at school has brought her campaign for Benedict’s Law to Northern Ireland, calling for urgent action to protect children with allergies in education settings.
Helen Blythe, founder of the Benedict Blythe Foundation, has been engaging with politicians across Northern Ireland to press for stronger safeguards in schools, including mandatory allergy policies, staff training, and access to life-saving spare adrenaline pens.
Her son, Benedict, died aged five after an allergic reaction while at school in England. Multiple failings were later identified.
His death has since led to a national campaign for reform.
Recent Freedom of Information findings for Northern Ireland schools show:
l Only around one in three schools currently holds spare emergency adrenaline pens.
l Many schools have no formal allergy policy in place.
l Significant numbers of schools provide no meaningful allergy training for staff.
l Provision varies widely depending on school type and location.
Earlier this year, ministers in Westminster confirmed that new primary legislation will make Benedict’s Law law in England - introducing stronger protections for children with allergies in schools.
That progress comes despite the position in England already being significantly stronger than Northern Ireland, where current safeguards remain patchy and inconsistent. Northern Ireland now lags behind other western countries, with Canada and USA having had similar legislation in place for two decades.
Campaigners say this means a child’s safety can still depend on postcode, luck, or whether staff have received voluntary training.
Helen Blythe said: “No family should send their child to school wondering whether they will be safe in an allergy emergency.
“Benedict’s Law is now moving forward in England, yet many children in Northern Ireland still do not have the same basic protections.
“Politicians here have been engaging positively, but children cannot wait indefinitely while reviews continue.
"Every school should have clear allergy policies, trained staff, and emergency medication available now.”
Children are known to experience first-time anaphylaxis and fatal allergic reactions in school more than any setting outside the home.
The Benedict Blythe Foundation is calling on Northern Ireland ministers to urgently meet campaigners and commit to implementing the principles of Benedict’s Law in Northern Ireland schools.