A 16 year old who taught herself music by watching You Tube videos has been shortlisted as a finalist in a competition that celebrates young people.

Sophie Frear dedicates much of her spare time to helping vulnerable teenagers while also tutoring her classmates and helping youngsters learn to read.

Now she been shortlisted for the LifePlus Young People of the Year awards or ‘YOPEYs’ – Oscars for young people in Cambridgeshire who ‘give to others’.

Sophie, of Lancaster Way, Chatteris, was nominated by class mate Casey Fitzgerald from Cromwell Community College for the support she has given him.

Casey said: “Sophie is caring and always looks out for others before herself.

“She’s tutored me as well as three others for free during the GCSEs.

“Without her, I wouldn’t have got the grades I did, I went from a D to a B in chemistry because she took the time to help me.

“She’s also a very talented singer and has performed for four years at local charity events such as for the Stand United charity, dementia and a local “Sandbox Group” who help homeless people.

“She writes songs about health problems, such as depression and anxiety, to post on her Facebook page to help other people know that they are not alone.”

Sophie’s head of year teacher, Michelle Priest, said Sophie has just been awarded the school’s annual governors’ award.

Michelle said: “Sophie is enthusiastic and hardworking. She has always loved reading and took part in the Carnegie Reading Challenge when other teenagers were taking it easy and enjoying the sunshine with their friends.

“As a member of the Kick Ash Team, she helped spread the message about the dangers of smoking to younger pupils, “She has made a really positive contribution to school life, regularly appearing in school productions and musical performances.

Sophie said: “People need someone to talk to and the more people reach out to me, the more I like helping them.

“I really enjoy seeing how children engage with reading. The youngest I’ve helped were around four years old.”

She also uses music and songs to help relate to other teenagers, which she shares on her Facebook page – sophiefriermusic.

“I started playing music at five years old,” she said, “although I’ve never had an instrument lesson and I don’t have any grades. But I’ve taught myself, learning through You Tube.”

She is studying biology, chemistry and maths A-levels, and hopes to go to medical school at Cambridge.