Hailsham woman honoured for '˜outstanding' volunteer work by Prime Minister

Laura Murphy received a Point of Light award for outstanding volunteer work in setting up WayfinderWoman, a community interest company which aims to support working women.

After her experiences of struggling to get back into the workforce following a career break to raise her children, Laura created a supportive community to provide advice, training and assistance where it is needed.

In a personal letter to Laura, Prime Minister Theresa May said, “Through Wayfinder Woman, you have created a pioneering and successful model in which inspirational women are helping others build the skills and confidence they need to realise their potential as budding entrepreneurs.”

WayfinderWoman’s events, speaker sessions and conferences provide a springboard for budding entrepreneurs and unemployed women alike, with everything from confidence building workshops, to master classes on the practical steps needed to get a new business off the ground.

Laura said, “I’m so excited and honoured to be receiving this accolade for my work in supporting women to overcome the barriers that are preventing them from achieving within the workspace.

“It’s a testament to the wonderful support I too have received from the team since WayfinderWoman began three years ago. Thanks to them we’ve come a long way in a short space of time.

“So far we’ve helped more than 600 women by providing free or low cost workshops, seminars, support groups and our acclaimed motivational annual conference.

“We also run a drop-in centre which offers one-to-one support, advice and an empathetic bridge to employment.

“We’re so proud of the women and how they are overcoming personal barriers and building up their self-confidence.

“They are now forging their way ahead within the workspace: some volunteering alongside us or other community groups, others becoming employed and more who are setting up their own businesses.

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside them and hopefully this recognition will spread the word allowing us to grow WayfinderWoman even further and faster.”

Laura and her team are currently working on a project called Revealing Women of Influence in Eastbourne with the Heritage Lottery Fund which will enable them to train women up in research, website design and presenting.

Laura is the latest recipient of a Point of Light award, which recognises people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements.

For more information about WayfinderWoman visit www.wayfinderwoman.com