Ashfield teen turns life around and is nominated for award

Brodie Colton, of Meden Bank, Stanton Hill, has been nominated for a county council 4Uth Award for helping to save the Quarrydale Young People’s Centre, Sutton, from closing.

The 17-year-old was one of several youngsters who campaigned after the council proposed it may close the centre if it did not find a new provider.

Councillor Liz Plant said: “Brodie is passionate, enthusiastic and eager to achieve and has been a credit working on behalf of all young people in the community.

“She has overcome a huge amount in her personal life.”

When she first joined the centre, Brodie described herself as “eccentric” and “known to cause a lot of trouble”.

In her early teens, she struggled communicating with other youngsters and felt self-destructive.

She supported her mum through various illnesses and turned to self-harming as a way of coping.

But with time and support, Brodie stopped self-harming two years ago and is working with her mum to achieve “calm” in their relationship.

Brodie is completing a level 3 Business qualification whilst supporting her ill mum.

She also works full-time as a business and admin apprentice, contributes at Quarrydale YPC, and is in the Ashfield Youth Forum.

Brodie is just one of the many young people who have already been nominated for the 2016 awards, organised by Nottinghamshire County Council.

The annual 4Uth awards recognise the outstanding achievements of young people across the county for a variety of different areas such as outstanding achievement, caring for others, vital contribution within a local community and overcoming adversity.

Young stars who have been nominated will be profiled on social media networks such as Twitter and Instagram.

Nominations are open now until June 10.

District youth panels will then shortlist three top nominees and select district winners who will then receive their awards at a special ceremony at County Hall on October 28.

During that evening, the overall county-wide winner will be named.

For more information, search #4Uth on social media or visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/4Uth.