A Bolton-born BAFTA-nominated actress and executive producers from the BBC have been paying visits to borough high schools this week.
Ruth Madeley, who was born in Westhoughton, attended Mount St Joseph in Farnworth, and Thornleigh Salesian College, and was awarded the first Bolton Wanderers' Community Hero accolade.
Now, Madeley has been paying visits to high school pupils to share her inspirational story and how she came to be a BAFTA-nominated actress.
Madeley and the BBC’s Young Reporter team then went to Derby High School in Bury to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the BBC and launch a new competition.
Assistant head teacher at the Radcliffe Road school, Lynn Provoost, said: “The BBC are on a schools tour to celebrate their 100th anniversary and to launch their young reporter’s competition but we were very lucky because we had a celebrity visit from Ruth Madeley.
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“She was absolutely inspirational and it was fantastic for our young people to hear about how she overcome adversity and achieved the impossible to become a professional actress.
“It was just wonderful to have them there and for the children to see the professional setup and speak to an executive producer and the crew.
“It was just a fantastic opportunity for all our students.”
Arriving at 7.15am on Thursday, October 13, whole year group presentations were delivered to pupils through years seven to 10.
Following the visit, pupils are being encouraged to enter the young reporter’s competition.
Ms Provoost said: “Each of the young people here will write their own story.
“We have a group of students that run our school newspaper and produce weekly editions of the Derby Times so writing and journalism is something that's incredibly important to us.
“We're really trying to get every young person to share their story and find different platforms to do that, be it through writing an article vlogging or an animation.
“We just want to make it so that every young person can tell their story in a way that means something to them.”
Speaking about the opportunities being made available to pupils, Ms Provoost is encouraging an "open door policy" for professionals from all walks of life to come to the school and talk.
She said: “I just think that schools need more opportunities for people.
“We want to have an open door policy where so young people get to meet different people from all walks of life.”
If you have a story to share you tweet me @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.
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