A Loughborough College student studying a level 3 in childcare has been named as a 2014 winner at the Pride of Charnwood Awards.
Amy Turlington was honoured in the Caring for Others category at the ceremony.
For nine years the 18 year old Childcare and Education student has been carer to her Mother, who has visual, sensory and physical medical conditions and she recently helped launch the first ever Young Carers ID card to support young people across the county.
The card provides the authority for the young carer to share important information about the person they care for with medical professionals and, if the carer is in an accident, lets emergency services know there is someone at home dependent on that young person.
Keen to help her community, Amy initiated a project to improve Shepshed which involved distributing a questionnaire and liaising with the library as contact point. After she had gathered responses and collated the information, Amy presented it to her local MP.
Before joining Loughborough College, Amy set up a friendship group at school for students lacking in self-esteem , was a student representative on the school Disability Group and was a school peer mentor. She also produced an anti-bullying leaflet used by students and parents.
Amy is an avid fundraiser, particularly for Enrych and for Rainbows Hospice – organizing the Brownies Christmas show or setting up pub quizzes. She is a young leader for The Brownies and is now working towards her Adult Leadership qualification.
Amanda James, Inclusion Officer at Loughborough College, said: “Amy is a very determined young person who, despite her own commitments, loves to seize every possible opportunity to help others and make positive changes. She enjoys her volunteering - and being the person her mum can turn to and rely on.
Amy is seen, third from right, receiving her award (picture courtesy Loughborough Echo)