First Minister takes teenage carer under her wing in mentor scheme

A young woman who left school at the age of 14 to be a carer for one of her relatives has won a competition to be mentored by Nicola Sturgeon for a year.

Charlotte Liddell was chosen by the Scottish First Minister from a field of more than 200 other applicants from around the country, due to her “inspirational” volunteering work with lone parents.

The competition, launched in March on International Women’s Day, is designed to highlight the importance of those in leadership roles passing on their experience 0 Nicola Sturgeon with Charlotte Liddell to younger generations. The 20-year-old, who has two children of her own, has spent the past three years working with the Gingerbread charity in Fife, which supports single parents and vulnerable families.

Born in Kirkcaldy, she became a carer for a relative at the age of 12 and left school two years later, before starting tohelpyoungparentsthrough her volunteering work.

“I want to inspire others just as the First Minister inspired me. I want people to know that no matter what happens in your life, you can still succeed,” Ms Liddell said.

Ms Sturgeon, who is planning to hold her first mentoring meeting with Ms Liddell later this week, described her as a “really impressive young woman” who had “more than got what it takes” to be a future leader of Scotland.