'I enjoy every minute of it’ said winner of Community Heroes award

Above: l to r, Les Barrett with Elizabeth Froude, Chief Executive Officer at Platform Housing Group

We have recently celebrated the unsung heroes who live in our communities at our annual Community Heroes Awards.

Our vision is to build a better future by investing in affordable homes, services and communities – we launched our awards programme in 2022 to highlight the work that both our customers and partners do in their local communities.

The awards were announced on Wednesday 19 June.

The Involved Customer Award has been awarded to Les Barrett from Shard End, Birmingham.

Retired Les has been helping customers at retirement housing schemes Sandham Grange and Robertson Knoll with their digital skills; he has gone above and beyond and, not content with developing their IT skills alone, he has shown a genuine passion and real interest in nurturing confidence.

Les explained: “I’ve been helping customers out once a week for the past year.  I absolutely love helping out in my local community and now I am retired, giving something back has become really important to me.  We’ve had some lovely success stories; I organised for a gentleman’s computer to be rebuilt as he just couldn’t get it to work and he is still overjoyed when I see him!”

Les uses a course called ‘Learn My Way’ which takes attendees through each step; his approach has resulted in those attending learning the basics without feeling inadequate.

Elizabeth Froude, Group Chief Executive at Platform Housing Group said: “It is people like Les who really enhance the lives of others in our communities. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, his actions ensure that people don’t get left behind. Being connected to others is all part of the human condition and Les has really done his bit to bring people together.  He has given his time freely and is an absolute asset to those he helps.  We are delighted to present him with this award.”

The award category was sponsored by Capsticks LLP Solicitors; set up in London in 1979, the firm opened a Birmingham office in 2008.

Martin Hamilton, Capsticks Managing Partner said: “Our mission is to be the firm of choice for organisations who work to make a difference, seeing such initiatives from those in the communities our clients support is what strengthens our purpose, to deliver results that matter. Mr Barrett’s passion for bridging the digital skills gap and access to technology is admirable and it’s my pleasure to know that we’ve sponsored the category that acknowledges his passion and dedication.”

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.”

To find out more about Les’s accolade, tune into our YouTube channel.