Search is on for inspiring women

DO you know an inspirational woman? Nominations are now open for the Region's longest-running awards celebrating women doing great work in all areas of society. The Inspiring Women Awards have been running for almost 30 years and recognise role models in business and the community in the North West and North Wales who have excelled in their lives and who give others the chance to shine.

Past winners include Olympian and businesswoman Diane Modhal and entrepreneur Carole Nash and the 2019 winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony at Manchester's Lowry Hotel in May, which will be broadcast live by BBC Radio Manchester.

People can nominate themselves or others in 6 award categories:-

► Business:- Honouring women in business whose talents and passion influence and inspire others. Open to firms established for more than five years.

► Community:- For women whose contribution to society makes a big difference to the lives of others.

► Entrepreneur:- Recognising women who take that leap of faith and develop businesses which benefit the economy. Open to newly established businesses.

► Inspiring Young Woman:- For young women who inspire the next generation. Open to those aged 16 to 25.

► Here Come The Girls:- This new award highlights men, women or organisations who are challenging systems that don't work for women, promoting female-friendly products or services, or are closing the gender pay gap.

► The Manchester Bee Award:- Recognising women who make Manchester the great City it is. They may have developed projects promoting the City or shown great courage. Open to women who live or work in the City of Manchester.

There will also be a judge's award with no nominations. The Constance Award celebrates women who quietly make a difference.

Awards founder Jacqueline Hughes Lundy said:- "One of the reasons why the Inspiring Women Awards have endured for 26 years is the ability of the judges to find role models with an inspiring story to tell.  Women like Menna Fitzpatrick, a 19 year old who went on to make history in the 2018 Winter Olympics, where, with less than 5% vision, she became the most decorated British Paralympian skier, winning four out of the seven British medals, including gold in the slalom. I am are sure there will be many more incredible stories to tell about this year's winners."

Main sponsor of the 2019 awards is again Lancashire Business School at UCLan and Dr Rachel Dyer, Faculty Director of Innovation and Enterprise, said:- "We are proud to be headline sponsors of the Inspiring Women Awards again this year. The awards' ethos has a strong link with the School's own Enterprising Women's Group and what they are trying to achieve within the North West Region."

The awards also support the Inspiring Young Women Foundation, established in 2010, which supports the work of an organisation helping to inspire the next generation. The recipient of this year's fundraising will be announced ahead of the Awards Lunch.

Nominations are open and can be found online now, with a closing date of 31 March 2019. Sky Sports presenter Angela Powers will interview finalists at the Awards Lunch ceremony on Friday, 10 May 2019, which will be covered by Lancashire Life and Cheshire Life. Tickets or corporate packages are available from:- InSpiringAwards.Co.UK.

'Writing on the Wall' awarded ₤239,000 to deliver Super Heroes Project

LIVERPOOL'S 'Writing on the Wall' (WoW) are thrilled to announce they have been successfully awarded ₤239,000 by The Paul Hamlyn Foundation to expand our hugely successful Super Heroes:- Words are our Power project in Schools in Merseyside.

The funding will provide a new job opportunity for a Schools Coordinator to join our dynamic staff team and oversee this exciting project.

Super Heroes:- Words are our Power is a literacy project that will allow primary School children in Merseyside to find the Super Hero within, using writing and creativity for the greater good, changing how we view and understand creative education in in Schools.

As part of the Arts Based Learning More and Better Fund, WoW will be working in eight primary Schools in Merseyside to provide arts based learning through creative writing, poetry, spoken word and illustration.

Programme Manager Emma Hulme commented:- "Here at WoW we see daily the impact creativity has upon people's lives, improving their confidence, reducing isolation, helping them to share stories and have their voices heard. Due to pressures within primary Schools and cuts to funding there is a distinct lack of creative and arts based provision to support literacy and writing. Over 4 years WoW will monitor the impact arts based learning has upon children aged seven to eleven, using Super Heroes as a focus for them to write and find the Super Hero in themselves."

The project will provide writers in residence, creative writing and poetry workshops, the creation of comic books and anthologies; also working alongside teaching staff to develop schemes of work and online literacy resources. Super Heroes:- Words are our Power will help children find the super hero in themselves through writing, ultimately improving their literacy, confidence and overall well being.

The following Schools are all confirmed as project partners:- Banks Road, in Garston, St Michaels and All Angels, in Kirkby, Broad Square Primary in Norris Green, Holy Cross, in Liverpool City Centre, Springwood Heath, in Allerton, St Cleopas in Toxteth and Blackmoor Park Junior School, in West Derby.

Mrs Corbett, Headteacher - Broad Square Primary, said that:- "Being part of this project is incredibly exciting for us as a School. The concept of words being our super power is one that will enrich our curriculum and inspire all of our children to be the best writers they can possibly be and the chance to have work published is something that we have only dreamed about until now. We can't wait to get started!"

Mrs Gibson, Headteacher:- Banks Road Primary added:- "We are privileged to be one of a small number of Schools to be working with 'Writing on the Wall' and are really excited to be part of such an innovative project to bring writing to life for both our children and staff! Roll on September 2019!"

To find out more about:- 'Writing on the Wall' and the Super Heroes project go to:- WritingOnTheWall.Org.UK or email the Programme Manager Emma via:- Emma@WritingOnTheWall.Org.UK.

We are told that:- 'Writing on the Wall', who are a a not for profit, social enterprise and company limited by guarantee with charitable status, that was established in 2002, now are looking for a Super Hero to deliver this exciting new project!

As part of this funding:- 'Writing on the Wall' will be recruiting a full time Schools Co-ordinator. To find out more about the post and apply please go to:- WritingOnTheWall.Org.UK for full details...

'Writing on the Wall' said:- "We'd like to say a huge thank you to the Paul Hamlyn Fund for their continued support."

If you do not already know, the original:- 'Super Heroes:- Words are our Power project' saw children across Merseyside create brand new super heroes that reflected them and the world they live in. An exciting take on a School literacy project the children created stories and comic strips that were then published into a professional comic book, with each child receiving their own copy. With the likes of Marvel comic artist, writer and editor, Tim Quinn flying in to teach a class, the literacy project worked with thousands of children across Merseyside.

Getting a chance to create their own superhero gives students a chance to produce a world of their own; a place of diversity and inclusivity. Creating Super Heroes is great way to encourage students of all abilities to think creatively and critically, often challenging the world they live in. Students who were deemed as underachieving thrived in a creative and engaging environment, engaging with literacy in a new and accessible way.