A Southport nine-year-old who has developed an app to help his autistic brother has been celebrated at a star-studded awards ceremony hosted by Eamonn Holmes.
Sean Porter wrote the app for his younger brother Adam and it is now being used by other children with non-verbal communication issues.
His achievement was recognised at The Child of Britain Awards, the first national awards ceremony to celebrate the courage, fortitude, talents and triumphs of exceptional British children.
The awards took place last night (Friday, June 24) at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. The inspirational and emotional evening featured a stellar cast of celebrity guests.
Sean was asked to produce a mobile game as part of a school project. Instead he chose to create an app to support his six-year-old brother Adam.
Adam was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and he rarely communicated verbally. ‘Speak with Sean’ was specifically designed for children who are non-verbal to help them communicate. It works by using pictures and sounds that allow the child to communicate what they want and need. As every child is different, the app has been designed to be user-specific to each child and to their own wants and needs.
Sean continues to look for ways that he can support his brother and others utilising his technology skills. He wishes more people would design technology with the purpose of helping others, rather than for a monetary incentive.
Sean won the Young Leader award.
As well as celebrating young people, the awards raised funds for children’s charity Cash for Kids through an auction. The amazing, unique prizes included a money-can’t-buy opportunity to meet Ant & Dec and watch them record Saturday Night Takeaway Live. Other prizes included a day with Simon Mayo while he broadcasts his Drivetime Show on Greatest Hits Radio, a VIP weekend trip to Ibiza for four, a beauty masterclass for up to ten people with celebrity make-up artist Chris Howells, and a family trip to Atlantis in Dubai.
Cash for Kids supports young people affected by poverty, abuse, neglect, life-limiting illness, and those with additional needs.
Among the celebrities present on the night were musical superstar Calum Scott. Calum’s debut album Only Human, hit number one on iTunes in over 20 countries and reached over one million in album sales. His hit single You Are The Reason is certified Platinum and has over 1 billion streams worldwide.
Speaking about the event, host Eamonn Holmes said: “The World is a scary place
at the moment and must be more so for children. These awards are in praise of all these fine young people, who have so many incredible stories to tell.”
Other celebrity guests included Gloria Hunniford, Olympian Colin Jackson, Stuart and Doreen Lawrence, Abbie Quinnen, AJ Pritchard, Mark Sears, Charlie Brooks, Tilly Lockey, Isabella Signs, Tilly Keeper, Shaheen Jafargholi, Claire Sweeney, Sherrie Hewson, Caprice, Robin Windsor, Bear Grylls, Amy Childs, Linda Robson, Nadia Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Natalie Cassidy, Denise Welch, Millie Gibson, Jamie Kenna, Michael Greco, Sinitta, Jamie Baulch, Jayne Torvill, Mark Hanretty, Joanne Clifton, Joshua Kane, Paddy Bever, Lee Stafford, Ray Whelan, Nigel Davies, Grandmaster Samuel Kwok, Calum Best and Jack Fincham.
Brainchild of husband and wife team Mark and Blanche Sainsbury, the awards have attracted sponsorship from I Saw It First, Greatest Hits Radio, Bluestone National Park Resort, Blue Tiger Marketing, The Trade Centre, Valley Mill, Mark Jermin, St James’s Place, Age Partnership, diykitchens and First Look.
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