The West Country Women Awards recognise women in arts and culture, sport, sustainability and more from across the region, celebrating winners in 16 categories. We shine the spotlight on a few of last year's winners as applications for nominations open for 2024
The Inspirational Leader Award
Disability, addiction and mental health issues – Emily Tisshaw has faced many challenges in her 30 years. Having battled her way to recovery, she has resolved to use her experience to help others.
Born with one hand, Emily felt her disability keenly. ‘Growing up physically and visibly different, there was a feeling that I wasn’t good enough, not worth as much as other people,’ she recalls. ‘That sat with me for a very long time, and still does, to be honest. Instead of embracing it and seeing it as something positive that I could bring to the table, as I do today, I felt on the outside.’
This led to a downward spiral: abusive relationships, an eight-year struggle with drugs and alcohol, several suicide attempts, hospitalisations and mental health problems.
Recovery took time, but Emily is now three years alcohol-free. Having moved to Cornwall seven years ago, she found the Duchy, in particular the ocean, would play a major part in her rehabilitation.
‘One of the things I really love about being here is sea swimming,’ she explains. ‘Being close to the sea and connecting with nature is so healing. It makes me feel like my problems are less significant. When you go into the ocean, everything else becomes quiet.’
Her favourite spot is Newquay’s Towan Beach, with its picturesque island. ‘I live just up the road so it’s very easy to get to. When I first went there, I was so keen to get in the water that even though I didn’t have a trendy dry robe, I took my Spiderman dressing gown.’ She has two dry robes now, and swims in style.
Today, Emily ploughs her energy into charitable work. The Sober Book Club is as much a supportive online community as it is about literary appreciation; and with suicide prevention charity Georgia's Voice, she supports women and girls aged 18 to 25 by providing advice and support, activities and a listening ear. Then there's the Women's Sharing Circle, a safe space for women to talk about things they might not be able to share with anyone else.
Meanwhile, her long-standing association with Reach helps children with upper limb differences live life without limits. Emily acts as a mentor for the young people, and it’s a relationship that pays dividends.
‘It is quite an incredible feeling being different in everyday life then suddenly being surrounded by lots of people who all have the same disability as you,’ she says. ‘We treat each other like family, with so much love and care.’
On top of all that, she is writing a book offering advice on navigating life as a young person with a physical disability, and has just launched a four-week course, Healing Through Writing – the next one is in June.
Despite everything she does, this young woman admits to feeling ‘real imposter syndrome’. The West Country Women’s Awards made all the difference. ‘It changed how I view myself and gave me the push to be a bit more confident about what I have to offer. It also made me appreciate the people in my life - I’ve actually nominated a good friend for this year’s awards.’
Of the gala final, she remembers: ‘I felt very anxious, wondering what I was doing in a room full of amazing women. Then I realised I was one.’
Avril Greenaway, Bude
Green Business of the Year
The impact of microplastic pollution on our oceans is a subject of increasing concern. When mistaken for food by wildlife, these tiny items can be toxic when ingested, as well as causing buoyancy that can impact on their natural habits.
Born and bred on Cornwall’s Atlantic coast, Avril Greenaway has spent years campaigning tirelessly at both grassroots and governmental level for plastic-free water, first as a director of the not-for-profit Cleaner Seas Project (CSP) CIC since 2013, then as a co-founder of the Cleaner Seas Group (CSG), a company which is seeking commercial solutions to the problem.
While CSP is working locally and nationally on beach cleans, partnering with global brands such as Peppa Pig creators Hasbro and online educational platform Twinkl, CSG has launched INDI, a filter that can be retrofitted to washing machines to trap tiny microfibres shed by our clothing - the biggest contributor to microplastic pollution - before they enter the water system.
First to put their money behind it were global superstars Coldplay; Cleaner Seas installed commercial filters on tour washing machines, and have been listed on the band’s website and tour app, as well as having their logo shared on big screens at the beginning of every show.
The invention was nominated for the Earthshot prize, and in November, the CSG team went to Sydney and beat 200 entrants from around the world to scoop the Ocean Impact Pitchfest 2023, worth $50,000 and priceless exposure.
In 2022, the group was behind the introduction of a Parliamentary Bill to require manufacturers to fit filters to new domestic and commercial washing machines, although sadly, things have stalled after two readings in parliament.
As if that weren’t enough, Avril turns her beach-clean microplastics into awareness-raising artwork, with 5% of profits going to the Cleaner Seas Project; in March, she was taking pictures of Summerleaze Beach to map the ebb and flow of microplastic waste.
Winning the Green Business award at the Westcountry Women’s Awards made her ‘really proud’, she says. ‘It was humbling to be among so many people doing incredible things. The awards were launched because women are less likely to talk about what they do. I’m a single mum with three kids, and it has been hard at times. Women supporting women is really important.’
Jan Ford, of St Agnes, was given the Phoenix Award for someone who has risen from the ashes and been resilient. The victim of domestic abuse, Jan fled her home in the south of France with her three sons, only to find herself facing criminal consequences under The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. Ordered by the UK family court to return to France with her youngest son, Jan finally came home to her native Cornwall five months later. She has since created the Loving Abductors private Facebook group and supporting mothers through one-to-one chats and video calls. ‘This award is for all the protective mothers in the world, who do not get the validation they should.’ she said. The Women in Sport Award went to Emilie Perring, 28, of Saltash. Emilie spearheaded the cheerleading programme for the Plymouth Raiders basketball team, and when the team went into liquidation, launched Plymouth Cheerleaders as a sole trader. Today the group supports two basketball teams - the Raiders and the Patriots - and Plymouth Albion Rugby Club. Emilie has offered free classes to members of the Bosom Pals breast cancer charity, and even set up the Cheer Dads group to boost men’s mental health. ‘Hearing the difference it makes to others brings me so much happiness,’ says Emilie.
Place your vote
Nominations and applications for 2024 are now open, with a closing date of August 7 for nominations and August 14 for applications. The winners will be announced at a Grand Final Gala, hosted by award co-founders Alexis Bowater OBE and Tess Stuber, in late November. To find out more visit westcountrywomen.co.uk
