‘Table 14’ erupted as the winner of the EVA Nat-West sponsored ‘Inspirational Woman’ award was announced – and standing ovation came not only from them but notably also from several other tables. Jen Blackwell, a 33 year old woman with Downs syndrome had won this award in the face of competition from N/West business women across the region. It was amazing in itself that she had reached the finals in 2 categories but to win one of the premier awards has been a fantastic accolade to her talent and determination in becoming a dancer, company director and trustee of her charity Dancesyndrome which uniquely has trained dance leaders with learning disabilities to co-lead workshops, work on choreography and deliver performances at events – Public Health England have booked them following their performance at a local conference in Blackpool recently.
The EVA -Enterprise Vision Awards – attracts sponsors for some 16 awards billed as “The North-West’s Premier Ladies Awards” and the Winter Gardens Blackpool was the venue for the announcement of the winners with some 80 finalists and their guests and sponsors attending the Awards night and dinner.
Jen’s great poise and confidence in speaking as she accepted the award is a tribute to what happens to people if they can follow their dream in other aspects of their lives. She acknowledged the support she’s had from “those on Table 14” who included her support worker Naomi Bedford, Donna Harrison a co-dance leader, Sarah Kennedy who helped in the early days including being chairman of the company and Dawn Vickers MD and co-dancer Peter Pamphlett…. and thanked her parents Malcolm and Sue Blackwell without whose support this would never have been achieved.
