A Liverpool student who works tirelessly to improve mental health provision for young people has received a scholarship from Edge Hill University.
20 year-old Charlotte Mangan is the Mental Health Champion for Liverpool. This voluntary role, which she took on during a two-week long school work experience project but has continued in ever since, involves meeting with health professionals and mental health service users to discuss the standard of services and participating in activism concerning mental health services for young people.
Charlotte has appeared live on BBC Parliament to deliver a speech about the importance of mental health issues and the ways in which they can be addressed and is in contact with local MPs including Labour’s Luciana Berger to discuss how community members can improve mental health services. She has even been recognized by the Queen for her hard work, having being appointed an Associate Fellow of the Commonwealth Society.
Charlotte says: “My own personal battles with mental health issues inspired me to take on this work. I found that the services on offer were not to a high standard and felt like I needed to give something back to the community to help those suffering with poor mental health.”
Charlotte, a first year student of BSc (Hons) Psychosocial Analysis of Offending Behaviour, says she is always ready to offer a listening ear to fellow Edge Hill students.
She said: “I am currently a student rep and engage regularly at events around the University. Both fellow students and people outside of University often ask me for advice regarding mental health issues and I am always keen to offer support. My lecturers are very supportive of the work I do and often ask for my insights in class.”
Another cause that is close to Charlotte’s heart is the Slow Down for Bobby campaign, which was set up by her family after her six-year-old cousin tragically lost his life after being hit by a car outside of his school in 2014. Charlotte helps towards the charity’s goal to raise awareness of speed limits and increase road safety around schools. During the past three years, she and her family have set up many fundraising events including a 15,000 foot sky dive which raised over £30,000 for the cause.
Charlotte hopes to join the armed response section of Merseyside Police Force once she finishes her studies.
“As well as my volunteering, knowledge gained from my studies will help me achieve this career goal as I am gaining a broader understanding around the reasons people offend and how various environmental factors and circumstances can affect an individual,” she said.