A former arranged bride and factory worker is hoping to launch a beauty salon to train single parents after she turned her life around through learning new skills.

Janet Ginnings, 57, of Woodside Park, was married at 15 in India after her parents and elders arranged the match.

The couple moved to England in 1988, where Ms Ginnings worked in a factory on a low income, but the marriage broke up and Ms Ginnings and her two children left.

She said: “Often with just 50p in my pocket, I was frequently faced with the choice whether to spend the pennies on lunch in the canteen or give up the bus ride and walk miles to work.”

But Ms Ginnings turned her life around after learning aromatherapy and Swedish massage part time while she took a job working in the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, where the manager gave her a chance.

She continued: “Mr Kassam booked an appointment with me and said it was the best massage he’s ever had, and within two days he booked again.

“He asked me a lot of questions but I didn’t understand where it was leading – the next thing I know he has offered me the chance to run the salon at the hotel and just pay the hotel rent, with the rest for me to take.”

The hotel’s salon flourished under Ms Ginning’s leadership, and after a short time she was offered the opportunity to buy her own salon in Mayfair.

Now, Ms Ginnings attentions are turning to starting a new training salon for single parents, through her charity Today and Tomorrow.

“I started the charity so I could start the school - I wanted give back what I got.

“Britain has been good to me and though I can’t help many, I am sure I can help few.”

The charity aims to encourage and provide support for single parents to develop skills that will help them come out of the dependency cycle and give them a chance of a better future.

The hair and beauty school, to be set up in north London, will provide training in work ethics and life skills to help single parents integrate into society and become independent.

Ms Ginnings will be taking part in a number of fundraising events including wing walking, scaling the UK’s highest tower at 400 metres, perform the longest zip line in the UK as well as expeditions up Machu Pichu and Kilimanjaro.

She said: “Other people can support the charity by buying tickets to our events, doing their own challenges or donating on the website, or even volunteering to help with social media alongside me.”

For more information visit http://todayandtomorrow.org.uk/