Abi worked as a high school music teacher for a number years, before starting Smiths Academy in 2012. Smiths Academy is a choir in Wigan focused on inspiring and enriching lives through music performing many musical activities, such as school music days, afterschool classes, summer school events, giant bubbles and poi/hula hoops, market stalls, performances, fundraisers. 

Living with Life was inspired by Abi’s experience of grief, losing both her aunty and cousin to cancer when she was younger, and more recently when a close family member was diagnosed with a terminal illness. 

Attending hospital appointments and experiencing the support from charities and hospices, fuelled Abi’s desire to help others experiencing grief. 

In 2016, after attending an Entrepreneur scheme, she decided to refocus and launch Living with Life as a project under Smiths Academy, eventually developing it into its own standalone Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2017. 

Abi is passionate about helping families in crisis whether that be practically or emotionally, tailoring help to a person’s own unique needs. 

Her aim is to continue to grow Living with Life to help more families in Wigan and its surrounding areas of St Helens, Leigh and Bolton. 

 

Abi is involved on a day to day basis with coordinating support for the families, organising fundraisers and seeking much needed funding for this important cause. 

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