Inspirational Leamington campaigner who has spent 30 years helping others is recognised with two awards

Lianne Kirkman, who was the driving force behind Helping Hands Community Project and The Esther Project - Women of Worth CIC in Leamington, was presented the awards at the Women’s Awards.

Lianne first received the Outstanding Woman with Community Impact award and was then announced as the overall Inspirational Leader of the Year for the Midlands.

Presenting the award, Sandra Pollock OBE called on those present to join her in celebrating Lianne’s 30 years of not just recognising the problems facing society, but having the courage, determination and vision to do something about them.

Lianne began volunteering in soup kitchens and working directly with women involved in street prostitution, helping them find safer routes away from exploitation.

She later trained as a nurse, specialising in complex care, before working as a detox nurse and then a practice nurse.

She also continued community work, including helping to establish Embrace in Coventry in 2011, which supports women involved in street-based sex work.

In 2015, using a £250 donation, Lianne founded Helping Hands Community Project in Leamington as a registered charity, supporting people facing homelessness and hardship.

In 2024, Lianne stepped away from Helping Hands to develop The Esther Project as an independent organisation for women facing crisis.

Karen Lynch MBE, the former High Sheriff of Warwickshire, who nominated Lianne for the awards, said: “I nominated Lianne because she represents everything that genuine community leadership should be.

“She doesn’t just recognise injustice or talk about what needs to change. She rolls up her sleeves, brings people together and makes change happen.

“Through Helping Hands and now The Esther Project, she has demonstrated extraordinary determination, innovation and compassion, creating solutions where existing systems have fallen short.

“To see her recognised not once, but twice tonight, and ultimately named the Midlands’ Inspirational Leader of the Year, is absolutely wonderful.

“Lianne is a real leader, an innovator and an extraordinary champion of women. Thirty years of compassion turned into action, and thirty years of making a difference. This recognition is so richly deserved.”