Sharon Anderson has been working on youth projects with children in Croydon for the past four years.

Mrs Anderson, from Thornton Heath, helps disadvantaged youths who are vulnerable to crime by helping them to get their lives on the "right path" and away from trouble on the streets.

The 39-year-old mum-of-seven has been funding the vast majority of the projects she co-ordinates herself.

When she is not surrounded by a throng of more than 35 kids, she works at Croydon Youth Development Trust with pupils in years five and six.

She teaches them about knife and gun crime and shows them ways to avoid getting into trouble and how to use their skills to realise their potential.

Mrs Anderson said: "I teach all the kids I work with to believe in themselves.

"All of them are smart and capable kids that can do everything they want to - they just need to be given the right opportunities and have the right kind of motivation.

"I tell them everybody is somebody and that by using what they are good at and by letting their personality shine through they can achieve anything they want to.

"I'm really chuffed at being nominated. I never expected anything like this because I don't do it for the money or the recognition, I do it for the benefit of the kids."

Mrs Anderson's main project at present is a magazine called Real for Life: Keeping It Real To Make It Happen and a junior talent show called Junior Jam, where the youngsters she works with will get together for the night to showcase their many talents.

The main theme of the event is knife and gun crime and how Croydon youngsters can steer their lives in a direction that avoids it.

Sharon's 14-year-old niece Rebecca Jackson said: "My aunt inspires me and lots of other youths to achieve their goals in life.

"She has devoted her life to helping youths in and out of her area by setting up weekly projects, taking them on trips and teaching them that there is more to life than guns and knives, while looking after a large family.

"I and others agree she deserves a medal for her kindness and most of all her tolerance.

"She has helped us all a great deal."