Charlotte’s a real class act
Jul 7 2009 By Kat Keogh
A BIRMINGHAM teenager has shown her caring side by giving up her free time to help fellow students cope with school life.
Charlotte Foxall, who is a is Year 9 pupil at Turves Green Girls School and Technology College in Northfield, is one of thousands of students across the country who act as peer mentors to other pupils.
The 14-year-old is part of a network of volunteers who give up their free time to support others by hosting drop-in lunchtime clubs and one-to-one mentoring sessions at their schools.
The peer mentors’ vital role in their school communities is being highlighted as part of Shine Week, a five-day festival which celebrates the nation’s talented young people.
Charlotte has just been accepted onto a mentoring training course and will be one of the first peer mentors on duty in time for Anti-Bullying Week taking place in October. Charlotte said: “I’m think I’m a kind person who thinks about others and am always trying to solve other people’s problems and make their life happier.
“I’m always willing to give my time to help people with their problems and I’m determined, when I’m given a problem, I’ll do all that I can to try and sort it out and advise.”
The peer mentor programme was set up by charity the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF), which will be celebrating the work of its volunteers with special assemblies and award presentations throughout Shine Week.
MBF chief executive Steve Matthews said: “We are incredibly proud of these young people, of the commitment they give to peer mentoring and of the level of maturity, empathy and kindness they show their peers.
“I encourage everyone to stop for a moment in Shine Week and take a closer look at some of the amazing and selfless, but sometimes unnoticed, things these young people are doing every day right across the country.”
* For more information visit www.shineweek.co.uk
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