The Cumbria Women of the Year annual event was started by Juliet Westoll in 1990, to support the work of Barnardos at Barrows Green, Kendal with Viscountess Whitelaw as Patron.

The event aims to find special ladies who are often unsung heroines of our county and honour those who work devotedly for the good of others. Public nominations are sought and the reasons for nomination are diverse, with nominees spanning all walks of life. The woman may be a devoted carer or charity worker, recognised for her outstanding professional achievement, often going beyond the call of duty.  They may be recognised for their personal sacrifice or their ability to overcome adversity and offer inspiration to others. They could have gained success in sport or made a positive difference to the people around them.

The difficult task of selecting a winner is undertaken by the committee, which is made up of 12 voluntary community representatives from all over the county. These ladies, as well as organising and fund-raising for the lunch, act as hostesses for the nominees at the lunch and many have been nominees themselves. Four committee members are former winners themselves.

The announcement and presentation of the Cumbria Woman of the Year award is given at a lunch at the prestigious Belsfield Hotel towards the end of the year and is funded by the generosity of local corporate sponsorship.

We are grateful for the support of our current Patrons Fiona Armstrong, TV Presenter, and long serving Juliet Westoll, our founder.

The Woman of the Year lunch offers the ladies a special day in a beautiful location as a thank-you for their contribution to Cumbrian life and honours their successful achievements.