On Friday 14th March the entire Shaping Portsmouth team attended the Pamodzi Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Awards in support of Kirsty Hill, our Education & Community Pillar Lead, who had been nominated in the Education category for her work on the Apprenticeship Bus programme.
It was an amazing, entertaining, and inspirational evening, made even better by Kirsty being announced as the award recipient!
Kirsty said “I’m truly humbled and surprised to receive the Inspirational Women of Portsmouth Education Award. It’s a privilege to be recognized alongside so many incredible women who inspire me every day. As a single working parent, the challenges I face push me to work harder, stay focused, and continually move forward.
“Every day is a reminder of the strength and resilience that women possess, and it drives me to do my best, not just for myself, but for my son and the community I serve. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a powerful network of inspiring women here in Portsmouth – you motivate me more than you’ll ever know!”
Simon Ingram, Managing Director of Mountjoy and Co-Lead of the Apprenticeship Bus programme, said “Kirsty its official: you are an inspirational woman and an award winner, you are an inspiration to me, and an inspiration to so many others that work with you. Stand tall, stand proud, and hold that swagger. You have “arrived” and are so deserving of this award.”
Dave Humphries, Shaping Portsmouth CEO, added “It was fantastic to have the whole Shaping Portsmouth team attend this year to support Kirsty. She has enormous dedication to delivering our Education programmes, but also, as an ex-services member and a previous mental health worker, Kirsty is also a big champion of our Armed Forces Community programme and anything wellbeing-related. To see Kirsty’s commitment and impact in our city recognised with this award was fantastic and very deserved.”
Kirsty dedicated her award to her good friend Abi, who took her own life after losing her battle with post-natal depression last year. Kirsty is also completing the Three Peaks Challenge in Abi’s memory later this year to raise funds for Mind.
The team would also like to congratulate two other Shaping Portsmouth alumni who were recognised at the event: Mackenzie Bird, who joined us for work experience last summer, received the Inspirational Young Person Award, and Keshia Stewart, our Next Generation Programme Lead between 2014 and 2018, was presented with the Inspirational Role Model Award for her work with Politely Rebellious Next Gen CIC.
