SARAH Merritt devoted her life to helping others until her life was taken by a brutal murderer.

She spent her working life as a carer looking after others and would never hesitate to go the extra mile to do everything she could to make their lives better.

Outside of work, the 39-year-old mum-of-two's life revolved around her family and the countless happy occasions they had shared or planned to share together.

Now, determined that some good will come from her untimely death earlier this year, her family has launched a foundation in her memory to help others.

The Sarah Merritt Foundation is a charity organisation specifically to help Families In Need. The organisation, which is just receiving official charity status, will also campaign with the Daily Echo to stop knives being carried on the streets of Hampshire.

It is a momentous step for Sarah's family, who are still trying to cope with their grief after she was killed during a routine visit to one of her clients in Southampton.

But it is one that is helping them channel their hurt and anger at their loss into something positive that will help others.

It was in the days after Sarah's murder when her family were together watching the news that they heard a list of people who had become victims of knife crime being read out in the House of Commons - but Sarah was not mentioned.

Sarah's mum Margaret Noakes, said: "We had looked at each other and said ours is one of them' but then Sarah's name didn't get included. We felt it was so unkind and made us think Was Sarah's life not worth anything?' "But then Southampton MP John Denham stood up and started to talk about his constituents who had also lost their lives like this and he told them of Sarah. John Reid (former Home Secretary) responded by saying the words we need to work together'."

Margaret added: "I wrote to him. I wanted to know was it just words or did he really mean we could all come together to do something?

"He passed on my letter to Vernon Coaker, the under secretary of state for the Home Office, who invited us to London. It was an incentive for us and we were determined to get involved."

Just like Sarah and her daughter Aimee, 16, Margaret had a special bond with her daughter.

"Sarah and I used to talk about society and I always felt that one day we would do something together. I thought Aimee would also be involved as well because we are all the same. I thought it would be along the family lines for those who are struggling.

"As soon as Sarah died we all knew something had to happen."

Margaret and Sarah's husband, Peter, took the first tentative steps in setting up SMF - and met with Mr Denham and Detective Chief Inspector Jason Hogg, from Hampshire Police's major crime unit, who led the investigation into Sarah's murder.

Peter said: "It was at that meeting when I let everybody know that Sarah had always liked the idea of fostering kids short term. She liked the idea of being rung up and being there to take children in if they needed immediate help and taking out of a situation. She always wanted to help others.

"Because Sarah was a family girl and because we have a very good family relationship where we have fun together, we think we may have a lot to offer others who perhaps don't.

"The aim is that through Families in Need, whatever their specific need is, we can help others perhaps by bringing in another organisation or putting them in touch with places that can help. There are all sorts of needs for all different types of families.

"We want to provide the link through SMF to put families in touch, to be like a portal of information. There are so many organisations out there that we didn't even know existed. People will be able to go on to our website and find the answers they need or at least where to go to find help."

Up and down Talking about how he and his children are coping with Sarah's death, Peter added: "Aimee gets very up and down. There must be times when she clearly misses her mum, they were the best of friends and she could talk to Sarah about anything. They would have all the girlie chats and times together and I can't replace that - in fact I can't fill Sarah's boots in lots of ways.

"We are all dealing with things for the first time without Sarah. Eventually there won't be a first time for a birthday or for Christmas without her because we will have done it.

"You shed tears and feel bad, but when you have wiped your eyes and come through it you tend to feel so much better."

The family plans to visit many of the groups and organisations to see how they work and the services they offer to others. Peter added: "We know we can't run before we can walk so we will start little by little but we will get there. We are very positive about what we are doing."

The foundation will be run by a committee with three trustees and the organisation hopes to have charity status within a couple of weeks. Margaret said: "I have focussed on this and poured my life into this charity and plan to devote the rest of my life to making it a success.

"We talk about Sarah all the time, and are determined that something so positive will come from her death."

To find out more about the Sarah Merritt Foundation visit the website www.sarahmerrittfoundation.co.uk.