A mum knew what she had to do after her friend showed her what "just a little bit of kindness" can do.
Charlotte Wake, 45, from Walton, works with the Whitechapel Centre managing a harm reduction hostel for people who have issues with drugs and alcohol. Previously she worked as a teacher in a prison for 15 years until she took redundancy, before being inspired to change direction in 2016.
At the time, a friend of Charlotte's was working in a hostel for the homeless, and invited her along to see what it's like. Charlotte said she "decided that's what to want to do" when the visit showed her the value of a "little bit of kindness."
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Charlotte has been chosen as a winner of our Local Heroes competition after being nominated by her fiancé Andy Martin. In his nomination, Andy told how Charlotte always has the time to be supportive and how she fights to get her family what they need.
He referenced how for the last year she has fought to get her mum the help she needed before she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and said "she deserves one of these prizes just so she can thing of herself for an evening." Charlotte won an overnight stay for two in the four-star Hotel Indigo, dinner in the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill and breakfast the following day.
Charlotte, from Walton, told the ECHO: "We've had quite a few medical issues with our family. Mum has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I've spent a lot of time doing that, making sure she gets the help she needs.
"Andy sees how much I'm doing outside work. I work for the Whitechapel Centre, so I manage a hostel for people who have issues with drugs and alcohol. He said he just felt like maybe it was time to show some appreciation.
"I worked in the prison for many years then I took redundancy. A friend of mine was working in a homeless hostel and said I should come and see what it's like.
"Once I saw how some times just a little bit of kindness can help people I decided that's what I want to do.
"A lot of the time they feel that they don't deserve to be looked after. We do it just to make sure people who have nobody in their life have a place."
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