Warrington-based author, solo mum and entrepreneur, Louisa Herridge, who has been inspiring and empowering other women to ‘turn their ironing boards into surf boards’ since leaving teaching during the pandemic, is celebrating this week after beating thousands of other applicants to be awarded ‘Orange Champion – as a voice for ending violence against women,’ at the finals of the prestigious She Inspires Awards 2022.
Louisa, 43 from Warrington is a speaker, author & leader of the Mamas Ignited movement. As a Mindset and Positive Psychology coach, she works with passion-led women in business who are ready to create more impact; this could be by igniting their message and mission, becoming more visible or taking that first step to reinvent their lives and business.
Louisa has overcome many adversities including narcissistic relationships, domestic abuse, debt, and chronic pain leading to depression and major back surgery. In the last three years, due to a violent assault at the hands of her ex-partner, she experienced burnout and a breakdown, before finding and creating a new path in life, helping others and helping herself and her young daughter too. Healing from trauma and living with PTSD, Louisa is now on a mission to encourage all women to believe in themselves, to ignite their spark to Be more, do more and have more.
In its eighth year, the She Inspires Awards celebrates inspirational women from all areas of life and from all parts of the UK and the world. The She Inspires Awards not only recognise the achievements of women in the community, but also enables award winners to grow and share their experiences with other members of the community.
Gulnaz Brennan, founder of She Inspires Group, said; “It’s a night of celebration and achievements of women from all walks of life in our diverse and thriving community, showcasing extraordinary examples of courage, triumph, kindness, compassion, transformation, skill and success.”
Louisa was a finalist in two categories ‘Fitness & Wellbeing’ and ‘Culture Champion’ which honours women with local, national and global recognition. Her special award came at the end of the proceedings, with twelve women out of the 500 present being recognised as ‘Orange Champion.’
The She Inspires Foundation CIC is running a year-long campaign ‘We are Orange 365’ whereby the 25th of each month will be recognized as Orange Day by the ‘UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign.’ Louisa will now be supporting this campaign and is delighted to be involved.
The leader of the Mamas Ignited movement, Louisa Herridge said; “I was so proud to be a finalist and winning an award has just made my year, not because I have a certificate in my hand but because of the kind of award I’ve won. I was honoured with a special contribution award for my work speaking out on violence against women. This accolade has made me realise how much impact I have made in just the short time since quitting my career as a teacher and I hope to support and empower even more women.”
The pandemic of violence against women and young girls started before we knew of Covid-19, and the virus has just made it worse. One in three women around the world have faced physical or sexual violence. In the UK, 57% of female victims were abused by someone they knew, commonly a partner or ex-partner. And there were over 840,000 domestic abuse related crimes in England and Wales in the last recorded year.
Ray Hinks She Inspires Foundation Founder said, ‘Powered by a vibrant women’s rights movement around the world, the ‘We are Orange Campaign’ has reached every part of the world. In grassroots communities, activists lead awareness raising sessions in school, highlight the voices of young women and girls against online abuse and violence against women.’
Mamas Ignited has been growing rapidly since 2020. Louisa has inspired hundreds of women through her Positive Psychology courses, motivational speaking, and publishing her debut novel sharing her story and mentoring other women who have overcome adversity and trauma to share their stories in an empowering way. Her first collaboration, From the Ashes, She is Ignited, hit ten Number ones on the Amazon charts in May 2022, knocking Whim Hof off the coveted top spot in a battle of fire v ice and the second volume is due to be published in January 2023, with a further ten women sharing stories of overcoming sexual abuse, kidnap, anxiety, breakdowns and childhood trauma.
Louisa has published three books, including her debut Mamas Ignited: Stop Ironing, Start Living’, mentors women, speaks at events about abuse, resilience and rising from the ashes and works with women as a Positive Psychology coach with her signature SPARKS – Mindset for Success System. Louisa is a role model and inspiration reframing her experience to prove you can “change your story” and reframe it and get that happy ending.
Louisa explains; “I pivoted from teaching and took on TONS of self-development so that I could not just be a storyteller but a voice for change with the support and skills to help out her women. Now as a qualified Positive Psychology Coach I work with women to support their mindset for success and I’ve mentored 18 women to publish their own chapters in a book and share their stories of overcoming adversity and rising from the ashes. I have sold nearly 500 copies of my book and feel privileged and proud every time someone tells me they have read it. I have reached hundreds more and women through speaking at events about abuse, resilience and rising from the ashes. I have changed my story and I know that by sharing it I have empowered others to change theirs.”
Gulnaz Brennan, Founder said; “Now the next generation of inspirational women is about to step forward. A reminder that the march of women leaders continues. We should all feel comforted by the knowledge that more great women step forward each year.”
