Avon and Women's Aid Empowering Women Awards Each year the Avon and Women's Aid Empowering Women Awards, in association with Marie Claire, recognise the amazing achievements and incredible bravery of women who have either been affected by domestic violence themselves, or who are supporting those who have experienced abuse. The 2011 judging panel This year's winners were chosen by a specially selected judging panel of high-profile and inspirational women: Alesha Dixon Avon's Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador | Charlie Webster Women's Aid Patron | Sarah Brown Women's Aid Patron Photo by: | Anna Segatti Senior vice president,
Avon WEMEA | Nicola Harwin, OBE CEO of Women's Aid | Trish Halpin Editor of Marie Claire magazine |
Meet our outstanding 2011 winners:  Child Survivor of the year: Alec Hopkins When he was 14 Alec stayed in a refuge for a year after fleeing his family home with his mother and sisters, who all suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse at the hands of his step-father. Channeling his traumatic childhood experience into his passion for drama, Alec has since written and directed a film on domestic violence to highlight the impact it has on young people. Photo: Avon Beauty and Empowerment Ambassador, Alesha Dixon and Women's Aid supporter, Nicola Mendelsohn with 2011 Child Survivor of the Year, Alec Hopkins.  Woman Survivor of the year: Sadi Kahn Sadi, a British born Kashmiri, suffered psychological and physical abuse for five years following her arranged marriage at the age of 19. She found the courage to divorce her husband and is now a strong, independent, businesswoman with a son aged 10, who nominated her for this award. Photo: Women's Aid patron, Sarah Brown and Women's Aid CEO, Nicola Harwin with 2011 Woman Survivor of the Year, Sadi Kahn  Marie Claire Campaigner Against Domestic Abuse: Dickie Chester-James A domestic violence survivor and current chief executive of Staffordshire's Women's Aid, Dickie has shown unfaltering commitment and relentless campaigning for the cause over the past 20 years. Her dedication has seen her help thousands of women in the Staffordshire area. Photo: MP Fiona McTaggart and Marie Claire editor, Trish Halpin with 2011 Marie Claire Campaigner Against Domestic Violence, Dickie Chester James  Grass Roots Hero: Val Corbett Inspired by her own experience of domestic violence, Val founded Dacorum Women's Aid in 1975 - the first refuge for women and children fleeing from abuse and domestic violence. Val has worked tirelessly, completely unpaid, for over 36 years to help break down barriers around domestic abuse in her local community so that fewer women and children suffer. Winning this award, Val received a £10,000 donation from Avon to fund services at Dacorum Women's Aid. Photo: Avon national sales director, Angela Tucker and Women's Aid supporter, Fay Ripley with 2011 Grass Roots Hero, Val Corbett. | 
