CHARLOTTE Hollingworth pencilled in a profit with a great idea.
Horizon Community College student Charlotte, 16, came up with the Colour Barnsley book as part of the I Know I Can challenge under the business name Creative Freedom.
She drew the scenes of Barnsley herself then had a production company create the books, which are part of the recent adult colouring trend. It bagged her three awards including the overall challenge winner accolade.
Since then, Charlotte has continued to sell her book at craft fairs and events, fundraising towards a £4,000 goal which would mean she could attend a Scouts Jamboree next year in West Virginia, USA.
Charlotte has been part of the scouts since the age of six and remains heavily involved, volunteering her time two nights a week to not only take part in the Explorers, but help the younger age brackets too.
Mum Jane, from Intake Crescent, Dodworth, said: “She drew the book by hand, printed it and went on to win. As overall winner she won a trip to Copenhagen.
“At the moment she is still selling her books as she was selected to go to the world jamboree next year.
“She doesn’t need a lot of prompting, she just decides these things and looks into them. She is amazing and has always been like that - she is a very ‘get on with it’ kind of person, no drama, just very confident.”
Her book has helped part of the transformation of Barnsley’s image.
Charlotte, in Year 11, has so far achieved 100 per cent attendance since starting school.
Horizon’s Community Enterprise Co-ordinator Suzy Dix said: “Charlotte is an exceptional young person. In a school of almost 2,000 students she stands head and shoulders above the crowd in terms of her work ethic, self-motivation and leadership skills.
“Charlotte hails from a single-parent family and has been involved in cubs and scouts from a very young age. This participation has dominated much of her social life and she gives up a significant amount of time to supporting and inspiring local beaver, cub and scout troops.
“Her involvement has extended to the raising of substantial funds to keep diferent groups going and ensuring that their meeting facilities are safe and accessible to all. With regularity, Charlotte has instigated and organised fundraising events - sponsored walks, sleepovers, etc - for beavers and cubs.
“On top of Charlotte’s dedication to scouts, since the age of 11 she has also run a number of successful enterprises. She has been a regular feature at local markets, selling handmade decorations and earning herself a steady income in the process. In 2016 she set up a business creating and selling adult colouring books.
“Each featured picture in the book is based on a Barnsley landmark, sketched by Charlotte herself. The colouring book had the dual purpose of encouraging positive mental health and mindfulness while also promoting Barnsley and its heritage.
“Charlotte has sold hundreds of copies of the colouring book to buyers as far flung as Italy.
“Her work on the book also earned her a trip to Copenhagen in Denmark, where Charlotte had the opportunity to meet with local entrepreneurs and find out about their businesses.
“Charlotte has given up many hours to supporting Horizon events and projects like parents’ evenings and open days. On top of these Charlotte maintains excellent academic grades and holds the ambition to work with animals.
“Charlotte is a wonderful reflection of the potential that Barnsley has to be a vibrant, forward thinking and innovative place to live and work.”
