A London entrepreneur is leading a campaign to move a statue of the ‘UK’s Kindest Person’ to a new home.
Sebbie Hall, who believes his kindness is his ‘superpower’, was honoured with a life-size figure wearing a cape in a heroic stance, at Tower Bridge in London last November.
The 21-year-old has a rare chromosome anomaly which means he suffers from physical and communication difficulties, and moderate learning disabilities. Sebbie was given the accolade after carrying out an act of kindness every day during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since devoting his life to helping others, Sebbie has racked up a long list of good deeds – including donating 400 coats and blankets to homeless charities, gifting 800 toys to children’s homes and even using his own money to buy strangers a coffee.
This led Sebbie and his mother, Ashley, to launch the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation, which helps vulnerable youngsters. It has donated tens of thousands of pounds to individuals and projects in Staffordshire.
Since its unveiling at Tower Hill, the statue has been moved from London to what was intended to be its permanent home at The Hub, a multi-use art and heritage venue in the centre of Lichfield.
But the 3D-printed statue now has to be relocated again as The Hub is due to undergo refurbishment — and it’s set to be ‘melted down’ if another organisation or business doesn’t step forward to claim it.
Entrepreneur Oliver Chapman – founder and CEO of OCI Group which helps global companies to improve their supply chains – has been a major supporter of Sebbie and is working with him and Ashley to expand the work of the charity.
After hearing that the Sebbie statue would have to be taken down from The Hub, Mr Chapman committed to finding a new home for it in partnership with the UK business community.
Mr Chapman tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Sebbie is an exceptional and inspiring young man. He is the perfect example of how we should all live our lives every day, which is to offer help and kindness to others.
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‘Sebbie truly IS the “UK’s kindest person”, and through the work of the Sebbie Hall Kindness Foundation, which includes actor Eddie Marsan as its patrons, has helped spread kindness and fund projects for vulnerable and disabled young people.
‘Unfortunately, his fabulous statue must be moved from The Hub, so I call on business and community leaders to consider hosting the sculpture.’
Sebbie’s mum, Ashley adds: ‘We are very grateful that Oliver is going to work with us to find a new home for Sebbie’s statue. We’d love it for it to serve as a symbol of hope for disadvantaged young people across the globe.’
Dr David Hamilton, author of The Five Side Effects of Kindness, told Metro.co.uk that being kinder makes people feel both happier and younger.
World Kindness Day takes place every year on November 13.
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