Awards Celebrated Inspiring Women In Yorkshire

Leeds law firm Irwin Mitchell sponsored an award at the Sue Ryder Yorkshire Women of Achievement Awards which saw inspiring women from the region gather together to celebrate their achievements.

At this year’s event, which was the 30th annual awards and was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, Irwin Mitchell sponsored the Women in Education award.

Lucy Bailey claimed the award for her tireless campaign to improve the help and support available to students at the University of Leeds who are struggling with mental health issues.

She helped to establish the Time for Change campaign on campus, which works to change the way that mental health is perceived and has established training for staff on how to support students with mental health issues by working with local organisations.

Last year the Women in Education award was not handed out; instead the organisers paid tribute to Leeds teacher Ann McGuire and all the women who work in education.

The charity event also raised money for the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice to help the charity continue offering the care and support it does to terminally ill patients. Irwin Mitchell Leeds has raised more than £200,000 in the last three years for hospices in Yorkshire.

Expert lawyers Joanne Fraser, Julia Burns, Carol Grundell and Nicola Handley from Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office attended the event to celebrate the achievements of women in Yorkshire and Jo Fraser, a partner in the Court of Protection team at Irwin Mitchell presented the award.

Joanne Fraser, a Partner and Court of Protection lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: 

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“It was great to attend the event and meet some of the most courageous and inspiring women in Yorkshire and to hear about their achievements.

“We were delighted to be able to sponsor this year’s Women in Education award and to present it to Lucy in recognition of her hard work to improve the support available for young people with mental health issues.

“In our work we see first-hand the fantastic work the Sue Ryder hospices do in the region and across the UK and we’re extremely happy to be able to support the charity in its work by helping to sponsor this fantastic event.” Joanne Fraser - Partner

Holly Buckley, Corporate Partnerships Manager at Wheatfields Hospice said: “The Women Of Achievement awards provide a great opportunity to inspirational women in Yorkshire to get together and share their stories and we are very thankful that Irwin Mitchell has once again showed its support for the event.

“The money raised on the night will help to ensure we can continue providing the help and support we offer to people in the region who are suffering with terminal illnesses.”