Cardiff residents asked to nominate their most inspirational women

Residents in the Cardiff area are being encouraged to nominate inspirational women who make a huge difference to their lives, as the Chwarae Teg Womenspire Awards for 2023 fast approaches.

Nominees are expected to repeat the success of Womenspire 2022 Woman in Sport winner, Vera Ngosi-Sambrook, a keen cyclist from the capital city.

Vera became hooked on cycling five years ago when she moved to Cardiff for a job, where she was encouraged to cycle to work.

As a relative newcomer to the sport, she was awarded the Ultra Distance Scholarship in 2021, which aimed to increase the representation of individuals from Ethnic Minority communities into the Pan Celtic Race, a journey through the Celtic Nations of the UK.

Vera said:

"I was honoured to be nominated for a Womenspire award, and to win in my category of Woman in Sport was incredible! It was a great evening honouring the achievements of women making a difference in Wales."

Run by gender equality charity, Chwarae Teg, the Womenspire Awards has the goal to both recognise and highlight the achievements and contributions of remarkable women from all walks of life.

Now in their eighth year, with plans for a larger and more spectacular event than ever, the awards will be held live on Thursday, 9^th November at Tramshed Cardiff, whilst also being simultaneously broadcast online via YouTube and LinkedIn Live.

Vera Ngosi-Sambrook (pictured on the left), winner of the Womenspire Woman in Sport award 2022 - Credit: Tracey Paddison

In total, the Womenspire Awards have nine categories open to women, and they are:

• Community Champion, sponsored by Millrace Marketing
• Woman in Sport, sponsored by Sport Wales
• Rising Star, sponsored by Floventis Energy
• Learner
• Entrepreneur
• Leader, sponsored by Business in Focus
• Woman in STEM, sponsored by the ABPI (The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry)
• Woman in Health and Care, sponsored by HEIW (Health Education and Improvement Wales)
• Community Connector Award - recognising a woman with a learning disability, sponsored by Mencap Cymru 

As well as these, also included will be a Gender Equality Champion Award, which is open to a person of any gender, to recognise their approach to closing the gender divide in their workplace.

Lucy Reynolds, Chief Executive of Chwarae Teg, said:

"The enthusiasm for Womenspire grows year on year as it’s an event like no other - so special and full of inspirational stories and entertainment. I'm delighted that we are keeping our hybrid format too as it gives us the best of both worlds – providing the opportunity for thousands to tune in from the comfort of their own homes, while we can be joined in person by finalists and supporters at the live event."

Lucy added:

"I'd ask people from Cardiff who know an inspirational woman, or a business which goes above and beyond, to get nominating. We want to hear about as many extraordinary people from across the nation as possible, who have made a real difference to their own lives and the lives of others like Vera."

To make a nomination for the awards, or for more information, visit www.chwaraeteg.com/womenspire (closing date - Wednesday, 31 May).

Organisations interested in finding out about sponsoring the awards can email womenspire@chwaraeteg.com.

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