‘The Perfect 10’ honoured at Woman of Influence Awards 2010
Today’s (Sunday 21 March) glittering awards ceremony saw ten influential women from across Scotland credited for outstanding achievements in their field as hundreds of guests gathered in the Hilton Hotel’s Grand Ballroom to raise a record breaking amount of money for Action for Children.
For the past nine years, the Action for Children Scotland Woman of Influence Awards have celebrated a woman who has had remarkable impact on Scottish society. This year, in honour of the tenth year of the Awards, the red carpet was rolled out for, not one, but ten influential women – ‘The perfect 10’.
'The Perfect 10' were revealed as:
- Author, JK Rowling
- Singer, Sharleen Spiteri
- Prolific and successful Scottish actress, Elaine C Smith
- Sportswoman, Liz McColgan
- Violinist, Nicola Benedetti
- Co-founder of Stagecoach, Ann Gloag
- Chief Executive of Culture and Sport, Dr Bridget McConnell
- Professor of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Edinburgh, Candace Currie
- Successful business woman, Vera Weisfeld OBE
- Baroness (Lady) Kennedy of The Shaws, Helena Kennedy QC
Picking up her award Elaine C Smith said: “I am thrilled to have been voted one of the ‘Perfect 10’. Action for Children Scotland is an extremely worthwhile charity that makes a real difference to lots of children’s lives. I have been lucky enough to attend a number of Woman of Influence lunches over the past ten years and they have always been fantastic events – loads of fun and hugely successful in raising a ton of cash for the charity.”
A final award, the Action for Children Scotland Community Award was presented to a young person who has been helped by the charity to overcome difficulties and turn their life around. It was won by Rachael McGuire from Clackmannanshire who had a very difficult childhood and found herself homeless at the age of 16. With support from Action for Children’s PATH project in Alloa and a great deal of personal determination, Rachael is now facing a much more positive future. She recently moved into her own flat and has a job in a local supermarket.
Kelly Cooper Barr, founder and chair of the Woman of Influence committee said: “These awards allow us to help some of the most vulnerable children and young people in Scotland and we’ve been blown away with everyone’s generosity and support both in the lead up to, and at today’s event.
“The Awards are also about honouring women in Scotland who have achieved significant influence through their life, work or passion. Being able to honour the perfect ten here today at our tenth anniversary in 2010 has been really significant and a day that we will always remember.
“The Community Award celebrates the achievements of a young woman who has benefited, grown in confidence, outlook and abilities as a result of the support received within an Action for Children Scotland project and we couldn’t think of a more deserving winner than Rachael.”
The diamonds and fizz themed bash was kicked off by an introduction from host, Fred MacAulay, before a fashion show presented guests with the very best of Scottish style. Another highlight came from OperaStar’s Darius who flew in from London especially to sing at the event.
The events big fundraiser, the hotly anticipated silent auction, saw a throng of money-can’t-buy prizes go under the hammer to raise a spectacular £100,000 for the charity. Top prizes included diamonds from key sponsor Lime Blue Diamond Store; a fantastic money-can’t-buy package with number one popstars JLS; a week for ten people at Mary Gorman’s luxury villa in Spain; a two-week trip for four to a villa in Bali, including maid service, courtesy of former WOI committee member Lorraine Barclay; a painting by Gerard Burns; and a Jilli Blackwood bespoke kilt.
Previous winners also joined in the celebrations including: Helen Liddell, Scotland’s first female Secretary of State; Olivia Giles, Motivational Speaker and Charity Campaigner; and Elish Angiolini, the first ever female Solicitor General for Scotland and Lord Advocate.
Organised by a volunteer committee of dynamic Scottish women, the Awards have raised over £600,000 since the inaugural event in 2001, which has gone towards supporting some of the country’s most vulnerable and excluded children and young people in over 60 projects throughout Scotland.
This year, all money raised will go towards Action for Children’s neglect appeal, recently launched by Davina McCall, which aims to raise £17 million nationwide towards helping the country’s neglected children. (It is estimated that 10% of children in the UK experience neglect).
Louise Warde Hunter, Action for Children’s Strategic Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland said: “It is wonderful to be celebrating a decade of success for the Woman of Influence event which has raised such a huge sum to help disadvantaged children across Scotland. Congratulations are due to all the committee members who have given so much time and energy to this great cause. They have proved both influential and inspirational in reaching out to help others and we thank them for their magnificent support.”
To make a donation to Action for Children’s neglect appeal, go to www.actionforchildren.org.uk/donate.
