Man behind the life saving Hollieguard app receives recognition from Prime Minister
Father from Gloucestershire, Nick Gazzard, who created the HollieGuard app’ safety app in memory of his daughter to provide additional protection for people experiencing domestic abuse or stalking, has today received Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s daily Points of Light award.
The Points of Light awards recognise outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.
Nick’s daughter Hollie was murdered aged 20 by her ex-boyfriend in 2014. Following her death, he set up the ‘Hollie Gazzard Trust’ to support and protect people who have experienced domestic violence and stalking. Through the trust, Nick has pioneered the ‘HollieGuard app’, an advanced personal safety device for smartphones which can reach out to emergency contacts when an alert is created. Nick has also overseen the development of a 'HollieGuard Extra', which provides enhanced levels of protection for women and men at risk of domestic violence or stalking, or anyone who travels and works alone, backed by a 24/7 monitoring service which provides direct access to a dedicated emergency response team who are fully equipped to assess the situation and are trained in appropriate escalation procedures. The app has been backed by Home Office funding and offered to police forces across the UK. In addition to the app, the trust helps reduce domestic violence through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships to schools and colleges.
Congratulating Nick on his award from the Prime Minister, Rachel Maclean, Minister for Safeguarding, said: “I am delighted that Nick Gazzard’s tireless work has been recognised with a Points of Light award. ‘The Hollie Gazzard Trust’, and in particular the Hollie Guard app, have provided vital help to victims and survivors of domestic abuse and stalking. Nick has made a real positive impact on women’s safety, and I congratulate him wholeheartedly.”’
Nick said: "It is fantastic to be recognised by ‘Points of Light’ and Members of Parliament for helping individuals who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse and stalking. I am really proud to accept this on behalf of the staff, trustees and volunteers who contribute to the work of the Trust and have made it the force that it is today. We will continue to raise awareness of the issues that Hollie faced and provide training and educational workshops to various groups and help prevent these things happening to others through our personal safety app, Hollie Guard."
Nick is the 1779th person to receive the Prime Minister’s UK daily Points of Light award, which was first launched in April 2014 to recognise outstanding individuals making a difference where they live. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements, including hundreds of volunteers who have been recognised for how they have served their communities through the Coronavirus pandemic.