AN EAST Lancashire businesswoman has been shortlisted for an award for her work in being the driving force behind a charity.

Dawn Vickers, 49, from Colne, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Business Woman Award at the 2018 Enterprise Vision Awards for her role as managing director of Accrington-based charity DanceSyndrome.

The charity is a multi-award winning dance charity which delivers inclusive dance workshops and dance leadership training as well as inspiring performances that demonstrate a focus on ability rather than disability.

The charity was founded by dancer Jen Blackwell, who has Down’s Syndrome, as she found it difficult to find opportunities in dance due to her disability.

DanceSyndrome’s ethos is that disability should never be a barrier.

Dawn has been the driving force behind DanceSyndrome for four years and has had a huge impact on the direction the charity has taken.

Dawn has had great success at generating funding for the charity, gaining £200,000 from Spirit of 2012 in 2016 and £160,000 from the Big Lottery Fund in 2017.

Dawn said: “I feel really honoured to have been nominated for this award. DanceSyndrome is a wonderful organisation and I strongly believe in our mission to empower and include people.

“I hope that this award nomination highlights the wonderful work that we do and encourages more people to get involved.”

DanceSyndrome project co-ordinator Sarah Calderbank added: “We are so grateful to work with Dawn, she is an inspiring lady who goes out of her way to make life better for every person that she meets.

“We are very proud she has been nominated for the Business Woman Award and we are certain that everyone who knows Dawn will think she deserves to win this.”

The Enterprise Vision Awards take place on Friday, September 28, at the Blackpool Winter Gardens. The public can vote for their winner at https://evasvoting.co.uk/business-woman-award.