The year 2026 marks a double milestone: the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust (formerly The Prince's Trust) and 25 years of the Pride of Britain King's Trust Young Achiever Award. For a quarter of a century, the Daily Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards with P&O Cruises and The King's Trust have partnered to celebrate remarkable young people whose resilience and determination represent the very best of Britain. Having empowered over 1.3 million UK youth to build brighter futures over the last five decades, the Trust continues its legacy, starting with a look at one of this year's inspirational finalists.
From gang grooming to gang exit
Gideon Buabeng, 32, from Croydon, is an award-winning motivational speaker, youth practitioner and founder of Our Pain 2 Power, an organisation supporting vulnerable young people and their families. Growing up in South London, Gideon was unknowingly groomed into gang culture by older boys from the age of nine.
“The older boys taught me how to ride a bike and referred to me as their ‘little brother’. I realise now they were grooming me as a child. They used to say hi to my mum, they showed her respect. They taught me to ride a bike, played football with me. They sheltered and led me. When I was young they were loving, like family.”
Gideon says: “I made a conscious decision to move away from gang life. I knew if I stayed, I would end up dead or in prison.” As he grew older, he recognised the dangers of the lifestyle and made a conscious decision to change direction. He focused on his education and secured a place at university studying Business Management.
Surviving a knife attack
During his second year, Gideon's life changed dramatically when he was ambushed by a group of strangers and subjected to a violent knife attack. Gideon says: “I didn’t even know the guys who attacked me. It didn’t make any sense.”
He survived 14 stab wounds, spent three-and-a-half weeks in intensive care and faced around five months of bed rest. He had to learn how to walk again and ultimately left university as a result of his injuries.
Finding purpose through The King's Trust
After recovering, Gideon worked as a delivery driver. A conversation with one of his customers led him to The King's Trust, where he received mentoring and coaching that helped him secure an opportunity working with young people.
“It was one of my customers who recommended that I should contact The King's Trust. The King's Trust team identified that the best form of support would be a mentor.”
In 2022, with support from The King's Trust Enterprise programme, Gideon founded Our Pain 2 Power. The organisation supports young people at risk of violence, exploitation, exclusion and involvement in the criminal justice system through mentoring, education, personal development, life skills and employability support.
Whole-family approach and wider work
Our Pain 2 Power also works closely with parents, carers and families, providing guidance, advocacy and practical support. Its whole-family approach recognises that creating lasting change for a young person often means supporting the people around them too.
Alongside leading Our Pain 2 Power, Gideon serves as a member of the London Disproportionate Scrutiny Panel for the CPS and works as a Metropolitan Police Community Facilitator training, helping to strengthen relationships between young people, communities and the police.
Now 32, Gideon uses his lived experience to help young people and families overcome adversity, recognise their potential and create more positive futures - turning pain into power. Pride of Britain is coming soon to ITV.
