ITV’s Lorraine

4th September 2015 by Natalie Burns

Back to ITV’s Lorraine

On Monday 7 September, the search for ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year will begin. TV presenter Lorraine Kelly will be joined by Women of the Year President Sandi Toksvig to launch the 2015 award. This is the fifth year that Women of the Year has worked with ITV’s Lorraine to find an inspirational woman from across the UK.

Viewers will be able to nominate an inspirational woman in their lives, before choosing a winner from the final three nominees. The three ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year nominees will attend the special Women of the Year Lunch & Awards on Monday 19 October, joining over 400 incredible women from all walks of life, each selected for their personal contribution to society. The winner of ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year will be announced during the Lunch and will appear on the programme the following day.

Speaking about the 2015 award, Lorraine Kelly said, “Every year we hear incredible stories in our search to find the Inspirational Woman of the Year. It’s an honour to meet these women who are genuine role models, who go out of their way for others and really make a difference in people’s lives. It’s always an emotional day but I’m looking forward to meeting them all.”

For more information on how to nominate an inspirational woman for the award, watch ITV on Wednesday from 8.30am or visit itv.com/Lorraine. You have to be over 18 to nominate and to be nominated. The closing date for entries is midday on Thursday 17 September. http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/inspirational-woman-of-the-year-award-nominate-2015 

Previous ITV Lorraine Women of the Year winners

Jackie Millerchip, a child minder from Hinckley in Leicestershire, was awarded the first ever ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year Award at the 2011 Women of the Year Lunch. Jackie was nominated by a friend who felt that she didn’t get enough recognition for her work caring for able-bodied children alongside those with severe disabilities. Jackie was selected as the overall winner by viewers of ITV’s Lorraine.

Professional singer Kate Woolveridge won the second ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year Award. Kate was recognised for her work with the Forget-me-Not Chorus, a Cardiff-based charity that supports people with dementia and their carers through weekly singing sessions.

In 2013, charity campaigner Marilyn Baldwin won the third ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year Award. Marilyn founded the Think Jessica anti-scamming campaign. The charity helps old and vulnerable people in the UK who are the potential victims of postal and telephone scams. Named after her mother Jessica, who was a victim of scammers, the initiative is supported by the local community and local police.

In 2014, Joanne Thompson who set up Millie’s Trust with her husband Dan in memory of their daughter Millie, won the fourth ITV’s Lorraine Inspirational Woman of the Year Award. Millie passed away when she was nine months old in October 2012 whilst at nursery. Joanne is a now a qualified first aid trainer and dedicates her time delivering paediatric first aid training with Millie Trust and raising money in order for the training to continue. She also campaigns for the law to change that requires all nursery workers to have training in paediatric first aid, as the law currently stated only one first aider is needed on site.

http://www.itv.com/lorraine/
Follow the search on Twitter via @ITVLorraine @womenofyear #womenofinspiration

Lorraine is broadcast Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 9.25am on ITV. One of ITV’s most popular daytime shows, Lorraine features an engaging mix of entertainment guests, human interest features, and the stories of the day.

www.itv.com/lorraine