Michelle Paton-Watson

MICHELLE is currently the manager of a successful step 2 intervention for people with anxiety and depression on the Wirral.

She runs a programme for Advocacy in Wirral that has helped over 500 people in the last year alone, and has assisted service users into voluntary and paid work as part of their recovery process.

Michelle believes that access into free services for all communities is paramount and works with other organisations to provide pathways for service users who need support and guidance in their times of need.

Barbara Phillips

HAVING enjoyed a varied career in the arts from a singer in Liverpool vocal group Distinction to a TV scriptwriter, Barbara is nominated for her achievments with Positive Impact which works primarily with young people from the city’s black communities.

She helped co-found the organisation which aims to provide opportunities for young people to learn new skills in the performing arts, free of charge.

Barbara is a driving force in the organisation producing, managing, writing and composing music for various stage productions and radio dramas including The Grove broadcast on Radio Merseyside which won a Sony Award in 2005.

Afrah Qassim

THROUGH her work to help those affected by forced marriage and so-called ‘honour based violence’ Afrah has made an outstanding contribution to protecting some of the most vulnerable and marginalised women in our local communities.

A Community Development Worker with Liverpool Primary Care Trust she has championed the needs of this group.

She is desrcibed as truly exceptional with the ability “to break down barriers whether they are social, cultural or instituonal, in order to instigate positive change”.

Freda Rowlandson

A STALWART of the bowling scene in Liverpool, 80-year-old Freda is nominated for her hard work and fundraising activities.

She has served as secretary over many years on the Liverpool Parks and Gardens Ladies Bowling League, and is currently secretary of the Halewood Indoor Bowling League. Due to her organisational skills in arranging bowling competitions, she has ensured that many hundreds of ladies from all parts of Liverpool have enjoyed their afternoon and evening bowling throughout the summer months.

She has organised many charity bowling events and has raised thousands of pounds for charities including Broadgreen Heart Foundation, Marie Curie, Dogs for the Blind and Deaf.

Jackie Rotheram

DESPITE a terrible road accident 30 years ago which left her with catastrophic head injuries and in a wheelchair for 12 months, midwife Jackie Rotheram used her experience to raise awareness surrounding pregnant women with special needs.

She has put the issue on the national agenda and transformed the care that women with disabilities receive before, during and after pregnancy not only at Liverpool Women’s Hospital but all over the country.

Wirral Witches: Mandy Molby and Jane Kirkham

THE pair set up Wirral Witches (Women in Touch with Claire House) five years ago and during that time have raised almost £500,000 for the children’s hospice.

Mandy and Jane have hosted dinners, fashion shows lunches, balls and ‘audience with’ events to raise much needed funds for the charity.

Last year Mandy was diagnosed with bowel cancer yet continued to work tirelessly for Claire House. 

Josephine Wood

A CHAMPION for the victims of rape Josephine is nominated for her work with Rape and Sexual Abuse centre in Wirral.

She started working there in 2004/5 and since then has developed new services across Merseyside, most recently the Hoylake Holistics hosting retail and holistic therapy outlets to help remove any stigma from entering the premises.

RASA has grown from a staff of just two to eight full time and three part time staff.

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