A WOMAN who overcame a drug addiction to set up her own business in Sherwood has met the Prince of Wales.

Ann-Marie Stanton, 27, talked to him about ideas for helping other young people achieve their potential.

She turned her own life around with help from the Prince's Trust – a charity which encourages young people to get into work, education or training – by setting up a community cafe at the Sherwood Community Centre, off Mansfield Road.

After leaving school, Ann-Marie had few qualifications and was a single mum at the age of 17.

She slipped into a life of drugs and felt like "it was the end of the road."

But Ann-Marie, who has now launched a charity for young people called Sherwood Spirit, said her life is "completely positive" today, thanks to the Prince's Trust.

She said: "I'm so content now.

"The work I did with the Trust's Youth Steps Programme – a part-time training course to help me prepare for a career in youth work – turned my life around."

After becoming a Young Ambassador for the Prince's Trust, Ann-Marie set up her cafe at Sherwood Community Centre in 2010 called Ann-Marie's diner.

She said: "When I got pregnant I thought that was the end of the road for me, but after running my own business and gaining life skills from that, I feel completely positive now.

"I saw the cafe as my own little business and it gave me a boost in self esteem, management skills and organisational skills.

"Although the cafe is now closed, it gave me the confidence to set up Sherwood Spirit."

Ann-Marie, who lives in Basford, hopes the charity will help young people in Sherwood by offering sessions on domestic violence, first aid, drugs awareness, dance lessons and stress management.

And she would like the charity to eventually cover the whole of the city.

Ann-Marie said meeting Prince Charles was a wonderful experience.

She said: "It was great to meet the Prince in London.

"We spoke about what the root causes of the summer riots had been and what the key issues affecting young people today are and how they should be targeted.

"It was wonderful, I don't see any barriers to what I can achieve now.

"I can't thank the Trust enough for how much they have helped me and continue to help me."

John O'Reilly, regional director for The Prince's Trust in the East Midlands, said: "Ann-Marie has proved that a little guidance goes a long way, as she is now inspiring the next generation of youngsters to turn their lives around in the same way that she has.

"She has achieved a great deal since being supported by the Trust – supporting other young people on Prince's Trust courses and running her own outside catering company, and she should be very proud of herself."