The case of James Bulger led to the group being set up

Dee Edwards, from near Llanberis in Snowdonia, set up Mothers Against Murder and Aggression (Mamaa) following the murder of toddler James Bulger.

Ms Edwards and two friends were so shocked by the boy's murder they decided they had to do something.

On Monday, she will receive a Home Office Local Heroes award.

In the 12 years since Mamaa started up, the campaigners have helped more than 400 families affected by violent crime.

"We started out as a child safety campaign, but met people who had their children murdered and very quickly changed direction," said Ms Edwards.

All of a sudden, your life isn't normal anymore - anything you knew before has gone and you are not capable of functioning Dee Edwards

"We deal with people whether it is their mother, their father, brother, sister, anybody at all who has had somebody murdered we deal with.

"Everybody is somebody's child - we learnt that quite early on.

"Just because you are 18, doesn't mean you stop becoming somebody's child.

"I just wish we weren't needed."

Ms Edwards said they helped victims in several ways, including going through the court process with them and finding out information from the police.

"We have actually moved in with people and done their shopping and their washing and their cooking and their cleaning," she said.

"All of a sudden, your life isn't normal anymore - anything you knew before has gone and you are not capable of functioning."

London ceremony

Mrs Edwards said the sight of James Bulger being led away had spurred her and her friends into action.

"It was just horrifying to think that was going on. We just felt we had to do something," she said.

The group was not funded for its first 11 years, and raised money through events such as fun days and quizzes, but was awarded a �30,000 grant last year.

The Local Heroes award will be presented at a ceremony in London.

It will commemorate Mamaa's work in organising a highly successful nationwide gun amnesty.

"It is really nice to be acknowledged after 12 years," said Ms Edwards.