The prestigious Inspiring Women Awards honour remarkable women

There are truly inspiring women in the North West, many of whom go unrecognised and who do not realise how they become role models for others. It’s not often you get to hear in person the stories behind such heroines, often unsung, but this is what over 350 guests were treated to at a sell-out lunch in Manchester.

At a prestigious celebrity lunch at the Midland Hotel on Friday 16th May, Danny Wallace, author, journalist and TV and radio presenter presented the Inspiring Women trophy for the Arts to: Claire Moore

Claire set up Certain Curtain Theatre in Preston, Lancashire nearly 20 years ago, passionate about encouraging new writing and producing issue-based plays. She is an amazing role model, inspiring young artists and writers and willingly offering support and advice. Claire uses theatre as a powerful tool for positive social change and revels in taking performance to the heart of communities. With tenacity, drive and great artistic flair, Claire has touched people’s hearts and minds, using ground-breaking plays to help educate and raise awareness of many subjects but especially domestic violence, writing and performing award-winning plays. She is currently touring LADY IN RED – an award-winning drama exploring domestic abuse across the Country. Claire is immersed in the Arts in its widest sense – a writer, director, producer, actor, tour-organiser, budget planner and fundraiser!

Founder and Award organiser, Jacqueline Hughes-Lundy, joint managing director of Inspiring Connections, says “for the past 16 years I have been reading the stories about the most amazing women imaginable and think each year that these achievements can’t be matched...but they are and in greater numbers. I hope that by recognising these women through the Inspiring Women Awards, we play some small part in encouraging others.”