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MWOTY MARVEL WINNERS ANNOUNCED
A teacher, nurse, volunteer radio presenter, disability advocate and
a community hub owner have all been revealed as the winners of
Merseyside Women of the Year’s special MWOTY Marvels awards.
The MWOTY Marvels awards were launched in June, after the
organisation was forced to cancel its 2020 event due to the COVID-19
outbreak. The online awards initiative was designed to recognise the
key workers and volunteers who supported our region through the
pandemic.
In an online ceremony on Friday 31st July, hosted by MWOTY
organisers, Ellen Kerr and Jean Gadsby revealed the MWOTY
Marvel winners as volunteer radio presenter, Cassie James, Associate
Nurse, Chloe Sutton, Disability Advocate, Donna Phipps, Design and
Technology Teacher, Graham Roscoe and community hub owner,
Michelle Bridge.
Cassie James, Sefton - Volunteer Radio Presenter at Mighty Radio
107.9. During lockdown Cassie demonstrated total dedication and
commitment to presenting her show, seven days a week, to connect
with her local community at a time when it was needed most. Despite
her own personal struggles with her health, Cassie has continued to
be a force for good in local media and used her position at Mighty
Radio to provide a platform to highlight the key issues and concerns
experienced by members of the Southport community, including
loneliness and isolation.
Chloe Sutton, Liverpool - Associate Nurse at Bridgewater
Community Healthcare. Chloe was selected for her passionate
commitment to her job, working long hours and weekends during
the COVID-19 crisis to support patients being released from hospital.
Her bubbly, good humour and ‘nothing is too much trouble’ attitude
has endeared her to her patients and she has kept her car stocked
with bread, milk and loo roll so that people in her care would not be
left without essentials. Despite a draining workload and facing the
devastating loss of one of her colleagues to the virus, she has never
compromised on patient care.
Donna Phipps, Liverpool - Pan Disability Advocate at Liverpool
Parent & Carers (LivPaC). Since lockdown started Donna has
provided a constant, up-to-date information service across the city for
families of children with additional needs. She worked with the council
to distribute food and supplies to families in need and those shielding.
Webinars became the way she gave support and online coffee mornings
brought people together, all while supporting her own family and son
who has autism. When the world closed Donna stayed open.
Graham Roscoe, Wirral - Design & Technology Teacher at Calday
Grammar School. When the pandemic hit, Calday School Design and
Technology teacher, Graham, spearheaded a campaign to make much
needed PPE for NHS and care home workers across Merseyside. Joining
forces with West Kirby Grammar School for Girls, he sourced materials
and set to work, using 3D Laser Printers and computer programmes to
make more than 3,000 visors. Frontline workers weren't charged for
the PPE, but they were asked to donate to Wirral Foodbank instead, to
extend support for the wider community.
Michelle Bridge, Wirral - Director at Building Bridges CIC at
Cavendish Community Hub. Michelle’s social supermarket has
stayed open six days a week since lockdown began and she has
provided food packages and deliveries to everyone in the community
of Birkenhead North End. Despite being self-funded and ineligible to
receive any specific grants and funding during COVID-19, she has still
worked tirelessly and endlessly to ensure her shelves are full and her
Community Hub stays open.
The five winners were selected from a host of fantastic nominations
from across the region, made by members of the public. During the
event, MWOTY commère, Pauline Daniels, and Collette McCann
from MWOTY Headline Sponsor, Michael W Halsall Solicitors, both
provided a special video message for winners and attendees.
Speaking after the event, organisers Ellen Kerr and Jean Gadsby said:
“It has been wonderful, despite the pandemic, to still do what MWOTY
always seeks to do – to shine a light on those people in our communities
whose incredible work often goes unnoticed and celebrate their
incredible achievements.
“We would like to thank and congratulate all five of our winners, all of
our nominees and all of the other keyworkers and volunteers who have
supported our region during these unprecedented and challenging
times. You are all marvels to us!”
The MWOTY Marvels awards were supported by Headline Sponsor,
Michael W Halsall Solicitors, and sponsors Leonard Curtis Business
Solutions, Community Foundation for Merseyside, Neo Community
and ADDvanced Solutions, Courage & Sparkle, Everton FC and
Financial Planning Corporation (Ainsdale), all of who had been set to
sponsor categories at the 2020 MWOTY Awards.
Collette McCann, Solicitor at Michael W Halsall, said: “The MWOTY
Marvels shine a light on some of the most amazing people, who in the
face of worldwide concern and anxiety, rose up to go all out for those
in their community.
“We would like to extend a heartfelt and genuine thank you and well
done to the MOWTY Marvels. They are all amazing and an inspiration
to our region.”
Following its postponement this year, MWOTY’s tenth anniversary
event will now take place on Friday 25th June 2021. Nominations
for the MWOTY 2021 event are now open. To find out more about
MWOTY, visit: https//merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/
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