On October 22^nd Trustee Eileen Hayes and I attended the Women of the Year lunch at Mayfair's Intercontinental Hotel.

This wonderful event was originally set up by Lady Lothian, almost sixty years ago, to see women retain the professional gains they had made during the war years, and to provide inspiration for future generations of women.

The Women of the Year event honours and celebrates the work of inspirational women of all kinds, from famous celebrities through to unsung heroes who have achieved much in their communities.

This year’s lunch had Olympic and Paralympic athletes and medallists, the military wives choir entertaining attendees with their new single, A-listers like Helen Mirren, household names like Sandy Toksvig, and crime writer PD James as Mistress of Ceremonies for the lunch.

Alongside these were many women whose names you would not know, but who have achieved amazing things across the country, from fostering dozens of disabled children, to campaigning for legal changes.

The Lorraine programme on ITV had run their own competition over several months with viewers voting for a very special Woman of the Year, and the winner was a woman who had set up choirs as therapy for Alzheimer’s’ patients.

Best Beginnings has received a previous grant award from the Women of the Year Foundation, again recognising the unique and valuable work it does.

A truly inspiring event reminding all of us to be the very best we can be in whatever fields we work.