Client Success Stories: Meet Toni-Ann
- Dress for Success GL
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Our clients go on to do incredible things, and their stories of strength and resilience never fail to inspire. Today, we’re celebrating the achievements of our 2024 Client of the Year, Toni-Ann Gurdon.
Toni-Ann had experienced youth homelessness and lived with chronic health issues. She was referred to Dress for Success Greater London for interview preparation and styling, but was unfortunately unsuccessful after her interview. Her health deteriorated further, and Toni-Ann was left bed-bound for six years, struggling with poor mental health.
However, she felt seen and heard after visiting us, and this inspired her to begin volunteering at the same food bank that had supported her. She quickly progressed to managing the project, which led to more volunteering opportunities. As her confidence grew, she returned to Dress for Success Greater London to get more support. She found it incredibly anxiety-provoking but, thanks to the kindness and ongoing help she received from our volunteers and staff, Toni-Ann felt valued and cared for. She participated in our SHEIN Curve Collection campaign, which significantly boosted her confidence. She credits Dress for Success Greater London with helping her to develop a positive relationship with clothes and her body image.
Like many of our former clients, Toni-Ann has used her lived experience to advocate for others. Using her creativity in voiceover, spoken word and podcasting, she amplifies marginalised voices and highlights some of the most pressing social issues. She has won numerous awards for her inspiring work and activism, including a 2024 Centrepoint Award.
Toni-Ann has stayed in touch with us here at Dress for Success Greater London, and now champions the charity as a Global Ambassador. In her own words,
Dress for Success Greater London has been instrumental in empowering me, seeing me, offering me the support that I need to get to where I want to go. And, when we talk about social impact, this is the definition of that.
The video below is taken from our 2024 Power of Women Awards. Watch it to find out more about Toni-Ann’s incredible and inspirational journey.
