TIME is running out to nominate someone who deserves widespread recognition in the Redditch Celebration of Women Awards 2018.
People have just until close of day on Tuesday, May 7 to get their nominations in.
The Redditch Celebration of Women Awards 2018 are to mark the centenary of women (and then only some women) getting the vote.
The historic decision was made law by the Representation of the Peoples Act of 1918 and came as official recognition of the tremendous role women were playing not only on the home front during the First World War, but just behind the lines too.
Even before the war women had long campaigned to have the right to vote, most famously the act of Emily Davidson who threw herself under the King’s horse during the Epsom Derby in 1913.
Now, to mark the role of women in modern day Redditch, Laney Walsh, branch secretary of Unison at Redditch Borough Council, has launched the Redditch Celebration of Women Awards 2018.
“This is a celebration of the achievement of women,” she said.
“Nominations have been flowing in but we know there are more unsung women out there in Redditch who deserve recognition and we want to hear from them.”
There are five awards:
1) The Business Achievement Award.
2) The Culture and Environment Achievement Award.
3) Lifetime Achievement Award.
4) The Everywoman Award for the unsung women of the town.
5) The Young Person’s Achievement Award celebrating the youth of the town.
The event will culminate in a glittering evening at St Stephen’s Church on Thursday, May 24.
“We have a four keynote speakers for the event,” said Laney.
“We have former MPs Jacqui Smith and Karen Lumley, Alison Davies, a curate at St Stephen’s who took a major career change, and Heather Wakefield, Unison national officer for local government who is coming up from London to speak.”
n Nominations have to be in by May 7 and forms can be picked up from Redditch Town Hall and from the offices of the Redditch Standard next door to Lloyds Bank.
If you prefer, simply write down on an email or piece of paper why someone is being nominated and send your entry to either of the about offices or email it to [email protected].
“Women should are also free to nominate themselves, and should make no apology for doing so. This is all about celebrating achievement,” said Laney.
