After being hospitalised with her mental health issues when she was just 25, Annie Burke has turned her life around for the better - and this is the moment she was told she had won a Prince's Trust Award.
The Prince’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards honoured the achievements of young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and have had positive impacts on their community.
And with their help, Annie picked up the Homesense Young Achiever of the Year Award on Monday afternoon at The Mac for her hardwork in setting up her own thriving bakery business .
Speaking after the awards ceremony, the Belfast woman said that she never expected to be short listed for the prize, never mind win.
"I’m really excited and just so honoured to have won this award," she told Belfast Live.
"The Prince’s Trust Enterprise programme helped me get my business, Annie’s Baking Company, off the ground and now it is thriving more than ever.
"It just goes to show that it doesn’t matter your background or what you’ve come from, you can always make something of yourself if you just persevere."
Annie had a difficult childhood and experienced anxiety and depression which led to her being hospitalised.
The North Belfast woman found life scary when she was younger and experienced panic attacks daily. She says discovering her talent for baking saved her life.
She left hospital determined to achieve her dream of running a bakery business and with the one to one support of her bakery tutors at Belfast Met and The Trust Enterprise programme she is now happier than ever.
Louise Greenlees, TK Maxx and Homesense President praised Annie's efforts in the lead up to her award.
She said: "Annie is a truly inspiring young woman and is a very deserving winner of the Young Achiever Award.
"She should be very proud and we’re sure she will continue to thrive. Well done Annie."
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