"Devoted" 11-year-old boy crowned Variety’s Young Star of the Year

Monday 05 March 2018

The devotion of Milo Baudains, a "one in a million" 11-year-old boy who helps care for his paraplegic mum, was recognised twice at the Variety’s Young Star of the Year Awards last night as he took home the ‘Young Star as Carer’ award, and was crowned the overall winner.

A total of twenty deserving youngsters were recognised for their achievements during the ceremony with awards acknowledging outstanding examples of courage, creativity, skill and selflessness.

The judging panel, which this year consisted of Lady Dalton, Charlie McArdle from the BBC and Malcolm Lewis, Chairman of Longueville Manor, said that Milo, "...truly deserved to be this year’s winner as he is a little boy who is so devoted to his Mum, and really is a Young Star!"

Milo’s mum is paraplegic after she broke her back in a horse riding accident in 1995, and she has used a wheelchair since then. Each day Milo, who has been described as sensible and caring for his age, helps her in any way he can. He gave up playing with his friends and going to Christmas parties two years ago after his mother fell and broke her hip, and instead he stays at home to look after her, and keep her company. 

The Awards judges heard how, on one occasion when his mum fell from the car, Milo stopped her from hitting the floor, whilst also phoning his Dad for help.

Milo’s mum believes that he really deserves recognition for all the help he gives under difficult circumstances, and also for the day-to-day assistance he gives without a thought for himself.

Pictured: Milo receiving his prize from His Excellency Air Marshall, Sir Stephen Dalton and Lady Dalton, Mark Cox, Operations Manager at the CI Co-op and Sandra Auckland, Variety's Chief Barker. (Vince Thorne Bespoke Photography)

 Milo's received his Awards as part of a ceremony at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel on Sunday. Many other young Islanders were recognised at the event in categories such as ‘Young Star of Courage Age 6-10’, ‘Community’, ‘Sports’ and ‘Arts and Academia’. Winners of each category were awarded £500 worth of CI Co-op vouchers, while finalists were awarded £100 worth of vouchers.

Sandra Auckland, Variety's Chief Barker said: "Every year I am more and more amazed by the young stars of Jersey. The nominations are always so poignant and inspirational. This year, every finalist has demonstrated strength, hard work and dedication that is well beyond their years.

"This event is so important, not only to recognise their past achievements, but also to encourage their future aspirations. An event like this wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors. We are so grateful for their contributions, especially the Channel Islands Co-operative Society. I am also thankful to our judges, it’s always a difficult job because each story is so unique and heartfelt. As with every year, we encourage all the schools, clubs and associations to participate as I know there are still so many unsung heroes out there."

Pictured: The winners and finalists of the 2018 Variety Awards. (Vince Thorne Bespoke Photography)

Here's the full list of winners and finalists...

Young Star of Courage 6-10
Winner: Kevin Teles (10)
"Despite being wheelchair bound due to a medical condition which causes his bones to be very brittle and prone to breaking at the slightest bump or knock, Kevin is a happy, hardworking and positive young boy. After breaking a bone while laughing too hard, he argued to be allowed to stay at school so that he wouldn't miss his French lesson. Since joining Samares from Mont a L’Abbe, which he was desperate to join, Kevin has been a source of inspiration and joy in the community."

Finalists: Lucy McKay (6), Daniel Canham (8) and Eliana Lazzarin (10)

Young Star of Courage 11-16
Winner: Charlotte Fernandes (11)
"Charlotte went through some very hard times after her third episode of foot surgery, which were required to help with a severe condition where her feet appeared to roll in. Due to a mental block from the anaesthetic, she experienced depressive and emotionally upsetting mental lapses. But the young girl, who also suffered from a painful skin condition which forced her to cut her hair short, has overcome all this in the last year of primary and entered secondary school as a "completely amazing, wonderful young girl." Her teacher, primary head, doctors in Jersey and in Southampton and her mum could not be prouder of the young girl who is described as having  'courage and a heart of gold.'"

Finalists: Joanna de Oliveira (11), Holly Noel (16) and Mafalda Oliveira (14)

Young Star of Community
Joint Winners: Nicole (12) and Scarlett Camacho (10)
"Nicole and Scarlett have been raising money for Eyecan, since Nicole was diagnosed with macular disease in her left eye in 2015, which has caused her to be partially blind in this eye. To thank the charity that has helped them, they have held cake sales at school and Scarlett had her hair cut for the Little Princess Trust, raising nearly £200. The sisters are now working on raising money for Headway, the charity that has helped their step-father after a head injury. Both girls are active members of St John’s Ambulance and Nicole is often on duty supporting events, while also being an active member of Jersey Sea Cadets."

Finalists: Harry de Gruchy-Wilson (6), Jayden Corley (13), Lexi Farrell (7), William Highfield (7)

Young Star as Carer
Winner: Milo Baudains (11)
Finalists: Mimi Eloise-Galvin (15) Owen Ballantyne (7)

Young Star of Sports
Winner: Grace Greenwood (13)
"Grace has done fantastically well in her first full session of Cerebral Palsy Athletics, competing in the T35 100m and 200m sprint. She broke the CP U14 record for 100m, beat UK athletic team members in August and is ranked 4^th in the UK. She has since been chosen to represent England in the CP World Games to be held in Sant Cugat, Spain in 2018. Grace is also a member of the training group at Jersey Spartan Athletic Club, training twice a week with abled body athletes who range in age from 13 to 35 years old. She participates in wall climbing, karate, frame football and school sports."

Young Star of the Arts
Winner: India Henstridge (13)
"India recently underwent invasive surgery in the UK to lengthen her femur She didn't let this hold her back and was still able to enter this year’s Speech and Drama Eisteddfod for the first time, performing in three sections throughout."

Young Star of Academia
Winner: Tiago Alves (15)
"Tiago is an “English as Second Language” Portuguese student in Year 11. He was nominated by a teacher because he could speak no English and had a very bad stutter when he first started school. This made him socially very awkward and had significant impact on his learning. Now in Year 11, he is a confident and happy young man. He works to the best of his ability in school and has a job at weekends and in the school holidays."

Lead photo: Vince Thorne Bespoke Photography.