A shortlist of "Wonder Women" in Bury has been announced ahead of a special awards evening to recognise and empower women in the borough.  

Taking place on International Womens Day, Wednesday, March 8, the ladies-only event will be at the Mosses Community Centre on Cecil Street, with doors opening at 6.30pm. 

There are 10 award categories and nominations have been judged by Bury VCFA CEO Helen Tomlinson, council CEO Lynne Ridsdale, and Greater Manchester Police Chief Inspector Samantha Jackson.  

A spokesperson from BAME said: "It's our first time as a community group in Bury to hold awards for women and their inspirational work.

"The BAME project is known to think out of the box and come up with genuinely new ideas and initiatives in our home town.

"The awards show women supporting women and going out of their way to help and become role models."

The shortlists for each award category are as follows:  

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP 

  • MELANTE MICHAEL 
  • ALYSON MALACH 
  • NAHEED NAZIR 

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 

  • SHAZIA ANSARI 
  • HADIA SAKHI 
  • SHAZIA NAWAZ 

WOMEN IN HOSPITALITY 

  • SHAM AL TAMER 
  • SHAZIA ANSARI 
  • ZEBA MANZOOR 

YOUNG ACHIEVER 

  • HUMA R FAROOQ 
  • ASHIA RIAZ 
  • TAHRA ZAFFAR 

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR 

  • CHING SEE CHAN 
  • ZEBUN NISA 
  • FAHMIDA KHAN 

RISING STAR 

  • JANE ALMOND 
  • SHIVANI BANGER 
  • ASHIA RIAZ 

WOMEN IN HAIR & BEAUTY WOMEN IN HEALTH & MEDICAL 

  • YVETTE COMER 
  • LIDA FARA 
  • HADIA SAKHI 

WOMEN IN HEALTH & MEDICAL 

  • KATE LURIE 
  • SHARON BYRNE 
  • KAYANAT R FAROOO 

WOMEN IN FITNESS 

  • ALIX MOORE 
  • MANDY LABRIANIDIS 
  • CASEY LYNCHEY 

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND 

  • GILL SMITH 
  • TAHIRA ZULFIQAR 
  • WENDY HOWARTH 

The Bury BAME Project will be hosting the evening to celebrate women who have been nominated by the community for going above and beyond.  

A spokesperson from BAME said: "We believe women are underrepresented, and as its almost International Womens Day, we are showing how strongly we believe in women's empowerment.

"The theme this year is #EmbraceEquity, it's so important for women's inclusion and not to forget one size does not fit all."

The group hope this can become an annual event and have collaboratively worked with ADAB and JCFT who have donated trophies.

A spokesperson continued: "We are also especially grateful for local business Glorious Gifts and Vanstones Solicitors.

"The community has truly stepped up for a fantastic cause and the money raised from the raffle will go back into supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse in Bury."

Tickets for the event are still available and are set at £15 per person.

If you have a story tweet @BuryTimes or @Heywoodharriet_ or email Harriet.Heywood@newsquest.co.uk.