Our Heroes: Student's credit for home work
AS IF his workload alone wasn't enough to keep him going, Paul Martin spends much of his spare time helping around the house and looking after two children.
But Paul isn't an adult expected to take on such responsibilities – he's a 16-year-old taking his GCSEs while looking after his siblings at the same time.
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FAMIILY AFFAIR: From left, Stacey Martin, Paul Martin, Fiona Card, from Kemball School, Jack Martin and Jayne Martin. Picture: Clare Jennings
The Sandon Business and Enterprise College pupil has helped mum Jayne to look after her adopted children Jack and Stacey, who have learning difficulties, for some time.
But his dedication was put to the test in November when Jayne, aged 44, suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Today he has been nominated in the Bright Young Thing category in The Sentinel's Our Heroes awards for the way he jumped in to help his family.
Jayne, of Harrowby Road, Meir, said: "Paul has learnt to cook and use the washing machine, he could iron anyway.
"Normal teenagers whinge and moan when they have to do things but he just took it without being asked, which really impressed me.
"I don't know how he has coped with it all, especially with doing exams as well."
Jayne, a single parent, was hospitalised for a week but needed a lot of help and support for more than three weeks.
She is only just starting to get back to normal, yet Paul has refused to have any help.
As well as helping around the house, Paul baths nine-year-old Jack, who has profound and multiple learning difficulties, and has learnt how to tube feed him.
His work adds up to two to three hours in the house each day, but he still manages to find time for his friends and studies.
Paul said: "It was quite upsetting when mum got ill because I didn't know what was going on but I had to keep it together for Jack and Stacey.
"I used to do a bit around the house but not as much as I do now. I feel I have to because it is not fair that my mum has to do things when she is ill, but I don't mind it."
Paul has been put forward for the award by Fiona Card and other staff at Kemball School, in Fenton, where Jack, and Stacey, aged 12, are both students.
The home school link worker, aged 43, who lives in Meir Park, said: "We at the school think Paul is marvellous and a credit to young people when they often get a bad name.
"We feel he should be recognised for what he does because he never complains."
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