Online initiative launched as main MWOTY Tenth anniversary event is postponed to Friday 25th June 2021 in light of ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Merseyside Women of the Year’s (MWOTY) organisers have today launched a special online awards programme to recognise the key workers who have supported our region through the pandemic.
The announcement comes as MWOTY’s tenth anniversary event is postponed to Friday 25th June 2021, amid the continuing COVID-19 outbreak.
Nominations for the ‘MWOTY Marvels’ will be open to key workers of any gender living or working in Merseyside or any Liverpool City Region borough, from nurses and supermarket workers, to delivery drivers and teachers.
Nominations will be open until midnight on Friday 3rd July via a form on MWOTY website, which asks how the nominee has made a difference during the health crisis.
MWOTY judges will select the five most outstanding stories to be crowned the ‘MWOTY Marvels’, while every single nominee will also receive a certificate of recognition. All winner announcements will be made online, via the MWOTY Facebook page, on Friday 31st July at 4pm.
Speaking of the special awards initiative, organisers Ellen Kerr and Jean Gadsby said: “Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen some of the most incredible acts of kindness and selflessness across our region and we believe that these should be celebrated.
“Our mission has always been to shine a light on the unsung heroines in our communities and we don’t intend to let a pandemic prevent that. The health crisis has seen us all pull together and as such we have opened nominations for the ‘MWOTY Marvels’ awards to all genders during this truly exceptional and unprecedented time.”
The judging panel will comprise MWOTY headline sponsor, Michael W Halsall Solicitors, alongside representatives from Leonard Curtis, Community Foundation for Merseyside, Neo Community and ADD Solutions, Courage & Sparkle, Everton FC and Financial Planning Corporation (Ainsdale), all of who had been set to sponsor categories at the 2020 MWOTY Awards.
Collette McCann, Solicitor at Michael W Halsall, said: “The ‘MWOTY Marvels’ awards are a fantastic way to honour the key workers who have kept our region going throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
“For almost seven years, we have supported MWOTY’s mission to celebrate those women who do so much for their community, while never asking for anything for themselves.
“This year, in the face of a global pandemic, we have seen this same selfless approach in so many of our key workers. They have sacrificed and endured so much to care for us, keep our shop shelves stocked, keep us connected, keep us healthy and teach our children. They are more than deserving of our recognition and thanks.”
The announcement of the special awards comes alongside the decision to postpone the tenth anniversary event, which had already been postponed from June to September, to Friday 25th June 2021.
Ellen and Jean added: “The health and wellbeing of our team, guests, sponsors, suppliers and inspirational women has always been paramount and with a continued prevalence of COVID-19 in the region, we have taken the decision to postpone our flagship event to 2021.
“We look forward to bringing our wonderful MWOTY community together, in person, next year and celebrating our ‘eleventy-tenth’ anniversary.”
Any tickets already purchased will remain valid for the rearranged date and any nominations made will also be transferred to the 2021 event. If any existing event ticket holders have questions regarding the new date, please contact Ellen or Jean via the MWOTY website.
You can nominate for the MWOTY Marvels awards online, via email or in writing by post. For guidelines and to nominate, visit: merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/mwoty-marvels-2020/
To find out more about MWOTY, visit: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/