Region President of SI Midland Chase Carol Bailey initiated a competition to find the Region’s most Inspirational Woman. Clubs in the Region were asked to nominate a woman who they felt fulfilled that title and at the quarterly meeting in June, 11 clubs gave their presentations to the Region meeting and to a panel of 5 judges.
The presentations showed what a wealth of wonderful, inspirational women we have working in the area of Midland Chase. A number of Nominations were for women working within the area of sexual and domestic violence: Lisa Freeman of SARAC (sexual abuse and rape advice centre); Dickie James, CEO of Staffordshire Women’s Aid; Kathy Coe who began and runs the Pathway Project and Carole Richardson, programme coordinator of a Salvation Army refuge for women. Detective Michelle Lane was nominated for her work for Hope for Justice and the work she does in the area of illegal trafficking, slavery and prostitution whilst Amanda Bevan was nominated for her support of homeless women and families in the Wolverhampton and West Midlands area. Also linked to homelessness is the work in Walsall and now in Rwanda undertaken by Yvonne Gough who works under the banner Churches Together. Other nominees were Jenna Wills for her work with Oxfam, fund raising and providing water in places in the world where it is most needed; Fiona Ford whose own experience with hair loss following chemotherapy inspired her to set up a bespoke service for wig fitting in the Stoke area; Dawn Candy whose inspiration has enabled Home Start to flourish and develop in Tamworth and Karen Ross who works with the charity Rosie’s Helping Hands to raise enormous amounts of money which is distributed to charities and groups for young people in the Walsall and Aldridge area.
Each of these women work above and beyond what could ever be expected and the way they work truly does inspire others: that have all had enormous effects on the lives of hundreds of women and children.
The judging panel comprised of 3 Past Presidents of Midland Chase Region: Kath Smith, Angela Reynolds, Judith Healey; Immediate Past President of Midland Arden Region Ann Keepax and SIGBI Federation Vice President Ann Hodgson. No one who heard the presentations and met the nominees envied them their role!
The winner will be invited to the Region AGM in July when she will be presented with a Royal Brierley Crystal inscribed bowl and a prize worth £150 which will be appropriate to her.
Region President Carol thanked all clubs for their nominations and commented on the amazing breadth of work these women cover – all of them truly inspirational!
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Photos attached: nominees for the title Inspirational Woman, 2015 with President Midland Chase Region Carol Bailey (4th from right)