We're very proud of our Bolton store’s community champion Christine Baldwin who’s been nominated for two awards and is going to be featured in a new book celebrating 100 inspirational women from North West England.
Christine's been shortlisted for volunteer of the year and employee of the year in the Inspire Awards, whose founder Gulnaz Brennan said: "She's a very inspiring figure in Bolton ... she's one of 100 women who are changing the landscape of the North West.
"We received several nominations for Christine which shows that lots of people know her and recognise her amazing work. Inspire is all about engaging, inspiring, empowering and celebrating women.
"There was nothing specific in the area to celebrate the achievements of local women so we decided to launch these awards a few years ago, and they really have grown."
To coincide with International Women's Day, Gulnaz tweeted to say that the book featuring Christine, 100 Women 100 Stories, has gone to the printers:
What better way to mark #IWD2019 than to announce the #100Women100Stories Book #celebrating #WomenoftheNorth is finally is done and dusted and with the printers today...now. 👊🦋 pic.twitter.com/EVXaeV5CYt
— SheInspires 🦋 (@SheInsprAwrds) March 8, 2019
Christine said: "It's an absolute privilege for me to be nominated alongside wonderful women who do all sorts of things – campaigners, educators and councillors.
"My community champion role has allowed me to volunteer my time and work with all this enormous variety of people for the last eight years, and help all sorts of people achieve their objectives. I'd never have done this and met all of these people otherwise.
"There's so much job satisfaction. Every week is different. For example, this week I've been out planting trees with the Woodland Trust, reading stories to children at a local nursery, delivering a careers session to secondary school pupils and helping out at a local senior citizens group."
Last year Christine teamed up with community champions in the area to help Urban Outreach, a Bolton charity which aims to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children whose families struggle when they lose access to free school meals over summer.
The charity's CEO Dave Bagley said: "It's great for Christine's community work to be recognised, everyone knows her in Bolton. She's our go-to person, she really makes things happen. She believes in what she does and is so positive, enthusiastic and encouraging – she's just brilliant.
"She spends so much time with us it feels unusual when she's not here! She's a superb ambassador for Asda."
She also regularly helps out with local arts and craft groups, delivers healthy eating sessions at primary schools and is a familiar face at colleges chatting about career options to students.
She's always at the forefront of in-store fundraising too and encourages colleagues to join in too – here she is with colleagues raising money for Bolton Hospice...
She also helps good causes receive Asda Foundation funding, like the £765 recently presented to Astley Bridge Park Bowling Club...
Store manager David Taylor said: "Christine does so much for the local area, in her community role and in her own time as well, and it's great for her fantastic work outside the store to be recognised and appreciated – we're very proud of her."
The award winners will be announced in a ceremony at the Macron Stadium on June 22.
