Thamesmead Celebrates the Female Species

Trust Thamesmead celebrated International Women's Day with an event held at over the Pop in Parlour, Coralline Walk, Thamesmead.

The event which ran 10:00am-2:00pm on Monday 9 March offered information, guidance and advice specifically aimed at women from local service providers including Trust Thamesmead, Gallions Housing Association, the HER Centre and the London Fire Brigade as well as free Tai Chi and massages and attracted more than 60 Thamesmead residents

“The event was a huge success.” said Trust Thamesmead's Community Development Officer Linda Delieu. “We engaged with lots of female residents that we aren't always able to engage with.”

Whilst there, Trust Thamesmead presented the first ever Trust Thamesmead Inspirational Woman Award which recognises females in Thamesmead who go above and beyond their call of duty.

Trust Thamesmead's Marketing and Communications Officer Julia Hickson said: “It has been obvious for years that a lot of residents, workers, carers and volunteers go above and beyond their call of duty and we wanted to recognise them by introducing the Trust Thamesmead Inspirational Woman Award.

“We put up posters, sent out flyers and nomination forms all around Thamesmead and received a great response from others nominating an inspirational female who lives, works or volunteers in the area. Names belonging to 10 inspiring ladies who live, work or volunteer were nominated.”

The first ever Trust Thamesmead Inspirational Woman Award went to 76 year old Thamesmead resident Pat Thompson who volunteers at the Pop in Parlour. She not only undertakes the thankless task of being cook and secretary but acts as a welfare carer and most of all a friend, one nominator said: “She always has a smile and a kind word.”

Others nominated Pat for ‘her wonderful work', ‘her friendly smile and generous nature', ‘her dedication', ‘helping people in more ways than one' and for ‘making everyone feel welcome'

Pat told us: “It is praise enough to get a thank you from someone when I give them a cup of tea so I was blown away when I was told I had won this award. I feel very privileged that people voted for me.”