TEENAGER Carrie Wilson is striving to transform her estate into a better place for her baby son.
The 18-years-old single mum (pictured), who is working hard to help the whole community, wants to make Hag Fold, Atherton, "the best place it can be" for one-year-old Jordan when he grows up.
As a result she is the youngest-ever member to be elected onto Wigan Metro's Housing Sub committee.
The former Hesketh Fletcher High student will bring new, young blood into what is a committee with much older membership.
Carrie, who has lived in the area all her life, is the daughter of chairperson of the Dorset Road Community Centre, Susan Wilson, and became involved with the group and Residents' Association through her mum.
She said: "I was elected onto the housing sub committee at the last meeting and though I haven't attended one yet I am looking forward to it.
"I don't mind the others being much older than I am. I get on with all ages, and I think they are expecting me to shine a new light.
"I am not political, and have no ambitions that field, but I am very interested in the area I live in. The estate has been badly hit by drugs and vandalism in the past, but I have seen it getting better.
"We must improve it for future generations, but we need to win over everyone to become involved. People tend to try to keep themselves to themselves.
"They need to realise they if we all pull together we can help resolve the problems that there are in Hag Fold.
"We need to attract more people to the community centre and residents' association and for them to tell people their troubles."
Carrie, a member of the Dorset Road Community Centre management committee with an interest in the new community mapping, is also a big dance fan.
For relaxtion she is a member of the prize-winning Hag Fold Morris dancers - who are leading the points total in the battle for the British troupe of the year title.
Atherton Cllr Sue Loudon said: "We welcome Carrie onto the committee. It's fantastic that someone of her age has such a big interest in improving her community. She has a fresh way of looking at things.
"If only there were many more like her the world would be a much better place."
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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