It’s been revealed today that former X Factor judge Cheryl Cole’s great granny, Nora Tweedy, has sadly passed away aged 90, and though she’s said to be “devastated” by Nora’s death, Cheryl has been carrying on with scheduled appointments that relate to the work she does for her own foundation charity.

Of Nora’s death, her son John, who is of course Cheryl’s uncle, said, “She loved to sing and dance and used to perform in pubs in Wallsend.

“In many ways, she was an older version of Cheryl. I think music must run in the family.”

Aww bless her.

However, as mentioned, Cheryl has continued with her foundation schedule and yesterday, she spoke with the Daily Mirror about how she hopes to reach out to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through her foundation…

She also spoke about how being bullied at school impacted her life, saying, “Growing up in an underprivileged environment can sometimes mean you’re surrounded by the wrong people and you make the wrong decisions.

“Being educated about the different paths you can take in life is vital – especially during your school years.

“A lot of young people don’t have focus and they don’t know what they are going to do with their lives.

“If I hadn’t had a dream, I could have gone off the rails and I could have had a very, very different life.

“I had a horrible time as a teenager and wasn’t very confident. Between the ages of 16 and 18, I was also in a horrible relationship.

“If I hadn’t had a love for music, I could have gone down a different path and become lost…

“I get a lot of letters from fans saying that I’ve inspired them to go for their dreams because of my background.

“Before I set up The Cheryl Cole Foundation, it had been niggling at me for quite a while to find a way to give back.

“I had an overwhelming sense of wanting to do something, so I set up the foundation.

“I decided that the foundation should help the work of The Prince’s Trust because it of its incredible work with young people.”

During a recent trip home to the North East, Cheryl met some youngsters who’ve turned their lives around thanks to the singer’s foundation and the Prince’s Trust.

Nicola Wilson, a 15-year-old, from Crook, Co Durham, said, “I was really unhappy at school.

“I acted up a lot in class and got in trouble. But the xl programme really boosted my confidence. Now my grades are better and I have a Saturday job at a hair salon.

“Cheryl really listened to my story – she felt like a big sister.”

And Jade Savvery, who was bullied at school because of her weight, said, “I was in a really lonely place when I was being bullied.

“I was surprised when Cheryl told me she was a victim of bullying too. If she can go through it and still make it as a star, then anyone can.

“She’s an inspiration.”