Relatable lessons in finance: Child of Britain Awards

Brooke Hurry and Fazeel Irfan were respectively named Child of Courage Under 13 and Child of Courage Over 13 at the ceremony at Grosvenor House in London in late June. Both have relied on a positive attitude, expert advice and detailed planning to excel in life despite their unusual circumstances. 

The parents of Croydon-based Fazeel, who suffers from a rare condition called severe recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EB), were told he would be unlikely to live for longer than three days after birth. Today, the 15-year-old, who enjoys karate and has ambitions to cure EB, spends four to six hours a day changing his dressings while managing his pain relief.

"The dressing changes are painful, but the biggest thing I have to plan is my painkillers so that I can have the best quality of life during the day and be as energetic as possible,” says Fazeel. He has to take morphine and ketamine, among other medicines. "If I time it wrong, I have to change the whole landscape of my day,” he says.

EB is sometimes referred to as butterfly skin, as it causes the skin to tear or blister at the slightest touch. "When you have EB, a lot of things are restricted,” says Fazeel. I have to think about everything, whether it eating, sleeping or drinking.”

Is a positive attitude a strength?

Fazeel's life motto is "never give up”. This positivity drives him. "Things are usually hard, but I understand that I can't give up. We'll find a cure one day – and maybe it'll be me who finds it,” he says. He educates others about EB – which affects approximately 5,000 people in the UK – as an ambassador for the charity Debra. His commitment might inspire people to back good causes.

Alongside expert medical advice, Fazeel's loving family help him overcome his considerable challenges, emphasising the importance of a good support network.

"The courage and resilience that Fazeel shows is an example to us all, and there are lessons that we can learn and carry over into how we approach our financial lives,” says Tony Clark, Senior Propositions Manager at St. James's Place. "The main relatable lesson is to have a plan and stick to it while keeping a clear goal or purpose in mind.”

Tony stresses the importance of trusting the plan. "We know that our financial lives, much like our personal lives, can experience periods of struggle, uncertainty and change,” he continues. "Rather than fearing this, we can embrace it, taking sound advice, learning from others and exchanging support with those we trust most. This is how we can make informed decisions and build our confidence for the future.”

People can also learn lessons from 11-year-old Brooke, diagnosed with alopecia at age four, especially regarding expert advice that can boost confidence. "My Mum advises me a lot, and she has always encouraged me to be myself,” says Brooke. Her mother, Gemma, adds: "Brooke doesn't worry about what anyone else thinks and does what she wants because she knows it's right for her.”

The confident and popular Brooke enjoys ballroom dancing, acting and presenting, and she has even interviewed comedian Matt Lucas as a volunteer for charity Alopecia UK. Like Fazeel, she gains much satisfaction from educating others about her condition.

How planning ahead helps

Careful planning helps Brooke hit her goals, which is something that people can relate to. For example, for four years, she had set her sights on being voted the head girl in her primary school. Then, in Year Five, her campaigning began in earnest – in the playground. And at the start of the following school year, she drafted her speech. "I took my time by starting early and asked many mums who had been teachers in the past to check my work and give plenty of advice on what to include,” says Brooke.

The meticulous preparation was worth it. "I am very proud to say that my hard work paid off,” she continues, "because most people voted for me, and many teachers said they could tell how much time I'd spent preparing.”

Why confidence is so important

Harriet Shepherd, Financial Wellbeing Manager at St. James's Place, says: "What Brooke shows is the importance of confidence. Being yourself is the most vital aspect of this. This approach aligns with how we hope people view finances; feeling confident and in control is the key to financial wellbeing.”

"She underlines the criticality of people aligning plans with personal values, as Brooke has done, and then teaming up with people who can help hit short and long-term targets. "Brooke wasn’t afraid to ask for help to achieve her goal,” Harriet adds."It's so important that firstly, people establish financial goals, and then they put a plan in place to achieve them.”

"Everyone's financial journey and plan is different – it's about finding what suits you and gives you confidence.”

We can help you create a plan aiming to meet your long-term goals. Contact us today for advice.

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