LSEC student’s community spirit earns her a Mayor of Bromley Award

An 18-year-old hospitality student from London South East Colleges’ Orpington Campus (@LSEColleges) has won a Mayor of Bromley Award for her devotion to local voluntary services despite facing a number of personal challenges and changes in her life.

Lola Rhodes from St Mary Cray was shortlisted for the award along with over fifty other people while living in care and chairing Bromley Council’s Living in Care Council (LinCC) meetings every fortnight. A member of the committee for five years, she became chair just two years ago and “has triumphed and shown enormous growth, determination, courage and determination” to attract more members and volunteers, particularly from other young people living in care.

After being chosen as one of just 14 winners at this year’s online ceremony, judges described Lola as a passionate, kind and highly motivated young woman who participated in various initiatives and represented the voice of Bromley’s care population. The Mayor of Bromley, Cllr Hannah Gray said: “Lola deserves recognition for her contribution to local services and is only just beginning to recognise her true intrinsic value.”

Lola came to the College last September after studying a course in Animal Management at another college. She decided that this wasn’t the career she wanted to pursue and came to us to continue with the subject she enjoyed most at school – cooking. She is now coming to the end of her Culinary Skills, Level 1 Introductory Certificate course and ready to embrace Level 2 in September.

“The decision to come to this College has been one of the best I’ve ever made,” says Lola, “and now that we are all back in the kitchens working full throttle towards completing our practical work, I’m loving it even more.

“As part of my voluntary work, I’ve been baking cakes to raise funds for LinCC activities and I intend to become a fully qualified chef one day. I would like to become a head chef in a London restaurant before hopefully opening my own establishment later. This is my ambition and the College is helping me to achieve it.

“Winning this Mayor of Bromley Award is something I will always be proud of. Getting involved with LinCC has given me so much confidence and belief in myself, as well as giving me the opportunity to show others what I can do.

“I would recommend to all young people to go out and get involved in similar initiatives to advance their local community, it gives you an immense level of satisfaction and pride to know you have helped others improve their lives. If you have ambitions, you need to do everything in your power to try and achieve them – enlist the help of professionals and organisations wherever they are available. Take every chance and opportunity offered to you and don’t let one failure lead to another – always keep trying no matter what.”