Community Heroes Awards salutes ‘huge bravery’ of nine year old
On Wednesday 19 June we announced our annual Community Heroes Awards, celebrating the unsung heroes who live in our communities.
Our vision is to build a better future by investing in affordable homes, services and communities, and we launched our awards programme in 2022 to highlight the work that both our customers and partners do in their local communities.
The Young Person Award – which is given to a young person under 18 years of age who is already making a difference to others, whether through volunteering, caring or helping others in any other way – has been awarded to Braiden Gardner from Worcester.
Braiden’s story is remarkable; in April 2023 when Braiden was just 9 years old, he was playing outside with his then 12 year old brother Riley. Riley was swinging on a rope from a tree when his neck suddenly became entangled and he quickly lost consciousness.
Mum Beki recalls the moment Braiden saved his brother’s life; she said: “Riley was effectively hanging; he was unresponsive. Braiden showed such courage and bravery and quickly sprang into action, incredible for one so young. He removed the rope and lifted him down. When the police and air ambulance arrived he answered all their questions about what had happened. We were told that 30 seconds later, Riley would have been dead. I am so very proud of what he did and the huge bravery he showed. I am humbled that he acted in such a calm and measured way; he saved his brother’s life.”
Braiden declared himself very proud to win the award.
Marion Duffy, Chief Operations Officer at Platform Housing Group said: “This is a story that is both terrifying and wonderful in equal measure. It is truly every parent's worst nightmare. For somebody so young to have acted in such a way is so incredibly worthy of recognising. We are all humbled and full of admiration for the way Braiden conducted himself in such a quick thinking and focused way in a situation that must have been so traumatic for him. He really is a hero and so well deserving of this award.”
The award category was sponsored by Dodd Group, a West Midlands family owned business providing electrical, mechanical and building fabric services to both commercial and domestic properties nationwide.
Ian Gregory, Electrical Services Director at Dodd Group said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Young Person’s Award which this year celebrates the quick thinking of a very brave young man whose decisive actions saved his brother’s life. Thanks to his efforts a terrible family tragedy was averted; Braiden is a real hero and he thoroughly deserves to win this award.”
The awards are made possible by main sponsor Travis Perkins Managed Services, the UK’s leading supply chain and procurement solutions partner to the repairs and maintenance sector.
Ben Clifford, Account Manager at Travis Perkins Managed Services said: “We are so proud to be the main event sponsors for Platform’s Community Heroes Awards for the third successive year. Our company values align with these awards and exemplifies our commitment to social value. Well done to all the worthy winners; its great they have been recognised and rewarded within their communities.”
Watch Braiden receive his award and listen to his story here.
Photo caption: from left to right, Riley Gardner, Braiden Gardner, Beki Gardner and Helen Southwell, a Board member at Platform Housing Group