With the Higher Croft youth club no longer functional, Christine volunteered her time to Blackburn Youth Zone as a youth mentor and was selected to meet Prince Edward on the opening in February 2012.  Youth Zone Mission Statement “A strategically located project designed to provide an affordable and safe environment for the thousands of young people in Blackburn with Darwen. Impacting upon the wider community – Blackburn Youth Zone will invariably prove a hugely positive addition to Blackburn’s residents and beyond. Promoting community cohesion – the Youth Zone will not only enhance relationships between Blackburn’s young people – but will create a shift in dynamic between its young people and the town’s greater populace”.

Some months later, Christine found it impossible to continue her voluntary work, due to her mother falling ill to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. Christine is now her mother’s registered carer, shared with her sister they rota mum’s care on a daily basis. As mentioned previously Christine has 13yrs experience caring for in-laws/family and has written a special page about caring…