A Chessington woman who used her tough upbringing to reach out to troubled teenagers has been honoured with an Inspiring Woman of the Year award.
Anne Davies, 53, was brought up in Kingston by a father with a gambling addiction and bipolar disorder and a depressed mother who never recovered from the deaths of Anne’s two elder brothers.
After 20 years as a social worker, Anne set up the children’s charity Jigsaw4u, based in Mitcham, which helps young people through grief and trauma.
She won the “Survivor” category at the She magazine awards because of the strength, bravery and determination she has shown in the face of adversity.
She said: “You can turn it around and do something positive with it. Because I’ve experienced these things, children and young people pick up that I know what they’re talking about.”
The charity, which has three UK offices and has done outreach work around the world, plans to open another office in Leatherhead so it can help more bereaved children in the Kingston area.
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