Charity founder receives Honorary Doctorate for Mental Health Advocacy

SARAH Anderson, who lives in Pimlico where she founded local charity The Listening Place, has been awarded an honorary doctorate at Middlesex University during its Graduation Week 2024 at a special ceremony recently. 

She set up The Listening Place in 2016 to provide face-to-face support for people in the local area who feel that life is no longer worth living. The charity now operates from multiple sites across central London.

Commenting on her Award, Sarah, said:

“This is my first degree so it is a special day for me and my family. It is brilliant that my work and the work of The Listening Place service in supporting people who are suicidal is recognised in this way.”

Sarah’s career spans the private and public sectors. She was CEO of specialist catering sector employment agency Mayday Group, ran other businesses and social enterprises, and has been a non-executive director on many boards. She has served as a Public Appointments Assessor, a Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission and ACAS, and as a non-executive director of Job Centre Plus. She was author of The Anderson Review for Government, looking at guidance and business support needs for small and medium-sized companies. Most recently, she was lay adviser to the independent investigation into discrimination in the Conservative Party and a member of the State Honours Committee.

Sarah, who did not go to university, started her education with an HND in Hotel and Catering Management from a further education college. She made a connection to Middlesex University when she gave a talk to a group of the university’s students on ‘The Power of Listening’ in 2017. Her Deputy CEO is a Middlesex alumnus, some current students and graduates volunteer with The Listening Place and Sarah collaborates with Professor Lisa Marzano, Professor of Psychology at the university.

Sarah’s message to students:

“You can learn a lot from a bad boss; just remember not to be like them when you are the boss. However much I learned from my various paid jobs, I learned far more from my volunteering roles over the past 50 years. I believe we can all spend too long thinking about things and be too nervous to do anything about them.”

Speaking about Graduation Week 2024 and the honorary graduates, Middlesex University Vice-Chancellor Professor Shân Wareing said:

“I will always remember my graduation day and our students will too. It’s one of those life moments that stays with you. I’m very proud to be sharing our students’ experiences this week.

“I’m also delighted to get the opportunity to meet this year’s recipients of Middlesex University Honorary Degrees and Medals. The individuals have all excelled in their fields of expertise and supported the university and our students.”