At Survivors Of aBuse (SOB), we know that healing is not linear—and that sometimes, recovery requires more than therapy and time. For many survivors, reclaiming control over life also means gaining the skills and stability to stand on their own feet. Our founder and CEO, Chris Tuck, is a powerful example of this truth.

In her current feature for AAT Comment—with a full profile coming in a future edition of AAT’s magazine —Chris shares how she turned an unimaginable childhood into a life of purpose, strength, and financial independence. Her tools of transformation? Courage, determination, and two powerful qualifications: AAT and CIMA.

“My Journey Into Accountancy Was Never About Numbers—It Was About Survival”

Chris’s early life was marked by trauma. She grew up in three violent households, was abused in every form, and moved schools and homes more than eight times. By age 16, she was living in a bedsit, working three jobs, and trying to find her place in a world that had offered her no safety.

Then she discovered accounting—first through a college module, and then through pure determination.

When a recruitment agent laughed at her ambition to become an accountant, Chris made a decision:

“That moment lit a fire in me. I was tired of being told I would never amount to anything. I wanted to be somebody — and more than that, I needed to be.”

Studying AAT and CIMA: Grit, Not Glamour

Chris didn’t take the easy route. Between the ages of 18 and 28, she worked full time while studying AAT at nights and weekends. Every spare pound went toward exam fees; every holiday was spent in revision classes.

“Just because you’ve had adverse experiences doesn’t mean you can’t reach your full potential. You just have to go at it in a different way.”

Once she completed her AAT qualification at age 23, she didn’t stop. She went on to study CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), further building her credibility and confidence in the profession.

What These Qualifications Represented

To Chris, these were never just exams—they were tools of personal transformation:

AAT gave her the foundation: financial skills, confidence, a career path.

CIMA gave her the edge: leadership knowledge, strategic thinking, and the ability to rise to financial controller level and manage teams.

“That qualification wasn’t just a professional milestone – it was proof that I wasn’t nothing. That I was capable, intelligent and worthy of a better life.”

Full Circle: From Student to CEO of Survivors of Abuse**

Today, Chris uses her qualifications to run SOB with both heart and financial savvy. She manages the charity’s accounts, does her own tax returns, and mentors others on how to use education and career growth as healing tools.

She continues to be a proud member of AAT—and proof that survivors can not only survive, but thrive.

“If I wanted to, I could walk into a full-time job tomorrow. But instead, I choose to serve survivors. All of this came from those qualifications. They gave me the freedom to choose my future.”

A Message to Other Survivors Studying at the moment.

Chris knows the road isn’t easy. Studying while working, parenting, and healing is a heavy load. But she wants you to know:

* You can build a future from broken pieces.
* You are worth the investment.
* The hard work will pay off.

“You will be OK. All the money, effort, and belief you’re putting into yourself right now—it will pay off. You are not your past. You are your potential.”

Read the AAT article here.