A charity founder was visited by King Charles III days before she died from cancer to invest her as a Dame.

Sarah Anderson founded mental health charity The Listening Place nine years ago and ran it as its chief executive until July this year when illness forced her to step back from frontline duties.

She had continued to be involved with the charity as a trustee and died earlier this month.

Days before she passed away she was visited by the King at Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham, “where he personally invested her as a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE)”, said the charity.

In addition, Prime Minister Keir Starmer had written to her to commend her for her “sustained and dedicated sense of public service”.

Prior to setting up the charity Sarah had spent 37 years with Central London Samaritans, including three years as branch director.

“It is impossible to overstate Sarah’s contribution to The Listening Place,” said The Listening Place.

“Our model of support is built on her convictions: that face-to-face conversations are hugely therapeutic for people who are feeling suicidal, that effective support can be non-clinical and delivered by volunteers, and that complete confidentiality is crucial in helping people to speak frankly about their suicidal thoughts and plans.”

Within 18 months of launching the charity in central London 1,000 people had been referred to it for support and it soon opened seven days a week. It now has four branches across the capital and supports 10,000 people a year.

“All of this is testament to Sarah’s vision and tenacity, her wonderful warmth and her ability to galvanise and engage all sorts of people, from doctors to donors,” said the charity.

It added: "Even after her health began to falter, Sarah was a regular presence on shift at Meade Mews in Pimlico, where her immense compassion for both visitors and volunteers, her sense of humour, and her great facility for always knowing exactly the right thing to say to someone in distress or difficulty, were invaluable.”

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