AN INSPIRATIONAL teenager from Cirencester has been ringing the changes for poverty-stricken families.

Former Cirencester Deer Park student Rachel Cross has persuaded her friends to litter pick to help collect more than 4,000 ringpulls for the Philippine Community Fund.

The 16-year-old, who now studies at Stroud High School, said the ringpulls of various shapes and sizes could be used by Filipino families, who were living on rubbish dumps in Manila, to make unusual gifts.

Rachel said that since she heard how a simple ring pull could improve the income and standard of living for families across the world, she has been hooked on collecting them.

“I have always been passionate about fighting poverty, and since my friend introduced me to this campaign, it has made me realise that anyone can make a difference,” she said.

“It doesn't require any financial donation whatsoever and it takes all of 10 seconds to pull a ringpull off a can.”

To drum up support for the campaign, Rachel has created a competition at Stroud High School in which house points can be won for the most ringpulls collected.

She has also created her own campaign video and has now set up a collection box at Cirencester Baptist Church on Coxwell Street to encourage more donations.

To find out more about the initiative visit p-c-f.org and to see Rachel’s campaign video, visit youtube.com/watch?v=v6pbdK3G_zE