Be a Rhino Not a Sheep tells their own stories and offers an insight into the life of a young mum.
Above all it urges other young people to make their own informed choices and not follow the crowd – in other words, to be a rhino not a sheep.
The book, written by a young mums’ group from the Hindley and Platt Bridge area, was launched recently at the Community First School in Platt Bridge.
Kayla Farrall, Danielle Thomas, Klaire Thorpe, Natasha Harris, Lee-Ann Shirley, Katie Taylor, Stephanie Rothwell, Beth Bowen, Danielle Round and Becky Quigley, all contributed to the book with help from council youth workers.
Kayla, 17, said: “We wanted to get our story out. People sometimes look at us like we are dirt but if they read this perhaps they will know our stories.
“We’ve had to grow up a lot becoming mums and I think other young people could learn from our experiences.”
Natasha, 17, said: “Hopefully we can urge others to think for themselves instead of giving into peer pressure.”
The young mums group wrote the book with the help of Julie McKiernan, a freelance writer and tutor from Leigh Sixth Form College. The book challenges traditional stereotypes, for example that young women just become pregnant to get a house and benefits. It also urges young men and women to think for themselves instead of following the crowd.
Youth worker Lisa Middlehurst said: “The group have proved that life doesn’t stop when you become pregnant and have a baby at an early age.
“The experience they have gone through has given them the opportunity and desire to educate other young women about sexual health and relationships so they don’t have to experience the same thing.”
Be A Rhino not a Sheep
(Taken from the book)
A baby is a lifetime commitment,
And no matter how difficult it is
when they are babies,
It will be worse when they hit puberty,
Stay young,
Think before you act,
Go on the pill until you are ready,
Don’t just do it ’cos your mates did,
Be a rhino not a sheep,
Stay away from men!!
