Heidi Mavir Heidi Mavir has been selected by Inspiring Woman Changemakers as the winner of the Bernadette Mary Speight special award in our Igniting Inspiration campaign. Heidi Mavir is a late-identified, Neurodiverent adult. She is a public speaker, advocate, author of Sunday Times bestseller ‘Your Child is not Broken’, podcaster, and parent to an Autistic/ADHD teenager. She is a also chronic oversharer and a bit of a badass. Those are her words – but our judges felt she’s more than just a bit of a badass! Heidi’s personal growth, consistency and impact are the three areas where they regard ..read more

Erene Hadjiioannou Erene Hadjiioannou has been selected by Inspiring Woman Changemakers as the winner of the Bernadette Mary Speight special award in our Igniting Inspiration campaign. Erene is an Integrative Psychotherapist with specialist skills in supporting survivors of sexual violence, whatever their gender. Her work is firmly based on relational, humanistic, and empowerment perspectives to maximise the efficacy of psychotherapy. Based solely in her private practice, Therapy Leeds, she is a writer and speaker who advocates and educates on the topic of trauma as a result of sexual vi ..read more

An interview with Suzanne Samaka Suzanna Samaka is a mental health campaigner for young people and the founder of the #HonestyAboutEditing campaign. Her mission is to protect the mental health of future generations from negative body image and low self-esteem from digitally edited content on social media. She set up her Change.org petition as a result of witnessing first-hand the impact that negative body image can have on individuals and the ripple effect on families and their circles. Suzanne, tell us about your ‘why’. What or who is it about? How can I make a difference to the mental heal ..read more

An Interview with Victoria Clapham Inspiring Women Changemakers member Victoria Clapham is the Founding Director of Bevic Marketing Services Ltd. She is a Chartered Marketer and CIM Fellow who has found her niche in working with values-led organisations. Vicky, how did your business come about? “I launched Bevic whilst on maternity leave with my second child (and with another child under five). I’d loved my corporate marketing life, working in house for a brilliant variety of organisations covering third sector, retail and the media but at that point in my career, having reached Director leve ..read more

Chapel FM Broadcasts Igniting Inspiration Awards This year’s Igniting Inspiration Awards, held by Inspiring Women Changemakers, will be broadcast live from Chapel FM Arts Centre. Part of Heads Together Productions, a community arts organisation that uses the arts and media to inspire a creative vision in individuals and communities in order to improve potential and achievement. In 2015, the Chapel FM Arts Centre opened a newly converted Methodist chapel situated in the heart of Seacroft, becoming the first-ever dedicated arts venue in East Leeds and the crowning glory of its investment in th ..read more

The Resilience Coach Backs Social Impact Stars – When Resilience, Purpose, and Values Align Russell Harvey, aka The Resilience Coach, is on a mission. His Purpose is to positively affect 100,000 people by the year 2025. Right now, he’s at 18,096! Russell works with people in blue-chips and schools alike, generously sharing both his expertise and infectious personality. Having been a supporter of Inspiring Women Changemakers’ work over the last few years, he recognises its wide reach and joint social aim of helping individuals to spring forward, personally and professionally. He believes that ..read more

Clare Hales Clare Hales has been nominated by Nickala Torkington of Flourish Together CIC. Clare says “After working as a Special Needs Teacher, I trained as a mindfulness practitioner for young people because so many seemed to need to find ways to manage stress, worries, and anxieties. From that, I founded Studio Serenity CIC which seeks for every child to grow into happy, resilient adults. I specialise in supporting children and young people with autism and their families as well as all young people with anxiety. I also founded Wigan Workshop CIC. This base in Wigan has two studios and one ..read more

Lindsay McGlone Lindsay McGlone has been nominated by IWC member Heidi Mavir. Heidi says “Doncaster-based Lindsay (known as The Fierce, Fat Feminist) is one of the finest young women I know! She has carved out a place as one of the most well-respected Fat Activists, using her considerable social media presence to highlight issues around fatphobia and the marginalisation of larger bodies. She is an incredible inspiration and support to many. At just 22, she is one of the most influential young women in the UK highlighting this issue, with a large Instagram following.” Over the past year, Linds ..read more

Tina Carnally Tina Carnally is the Founder of Forward (Stockport LGBT+ Centre) CIC. She was nominated by Nickala Torkington of Flourish Together CIC. Tina says “I have been developing a first of its kind community hub for the LGBTQIA+ community of Stockport and surrounding boroughs. The aim is to improve the wellbeing of service users and the wider community by embracing the “5 Ways to Wellbeing”. We provide a local, accessible, and inclusive safe space, respecting everyone who joins our activities, and we work to increase inter-sectional activity, and promote good physical and mental health ..read more

Lalita Parmar Lalita Parmar has been nominated by IWC member Pria Bhabra. Pria says “Lalita is a key figure in the Indian community in West Leeds. From a young age (she is now retired), she has volunteered with the local temple to bring people together and has been key in helping to connect those furthest away who are elderly, vulnerable, or isolated. Lalita is often seen at events with key people from the temple who appreciate the links she makes. Whatever Lalita feels something could benefit the community, she takes action by listening, finding out information, sharing information, signpost ..read more