BRADFORD'S unsung female heroes will be honoured for their contributions and achievements at the annual Bradford Inspirational Women Awards next Saturday.

Women from the world of sport, education, business and community work will be honoured at the ceremony, which is being held at the Life Centre on Wapping Road.

The awards, organised by the Inspirational Women Foundation, are intended to inspire future generations and raise money for female causes.

This year’s award ceremony will be presented by husband and wife broadcasting team Sunny and Shay Grewal.

Chief guests will include athlete and Paralympic head coach Paula Dunn, Shadow Equalities Minister in the House of Lords Baroness Glenys Thornton and former leader and former vice chairman of the Respect party Salma Yaqoob.

The Inspirational Women Foundation and BIWA co-founder Jane Vincent said: “Now more than ever before is it so important that we highlight and salute the extraordinary accomplishments of formidable women not just in the public but the private sphere also.”

All money raised from the night, through ticket sales, will be used to support female causes such as court fees for women who have been subjected to sexual harassment in the work place, supporting victims of domestic violence and helping women struggling to find work.

The award ceremony adds a new category each year and the latest is for Inspirational Woman Teacher.

Nominated for that prize are Eleanor Bryant a psychology lecturer at the University of Bradford, Sally Layas, assistant head at Holy Family Catholic School and Jessica McMillan, a teacher at Copthorne Primary School.

Sports nominees are Saima Hussain, the only Asian female rugby league player in the country and Ambreen Sadiq, the first first Muslim female boxer to compete at a professional level.

Other nominees are: Employee category - Lynne Cunningham, YMCA; pre-school manager Shazia Mehrban and Dr Kulpana Patel of the Bradford City CCG.

Public/Voluntary Sector Award - Yasmin Khan, Staying Put; Asfa Sajjad of the Aurat Project and Dr Kulpana Patel of the Bradford City CCG.

Community Star - Janet Dunn, the head teacher's PA at Carlton Bolling College, who is nominated for helping raise money for a family at the school after their mother was involved in a car crash; Beverley Barton, who has been involved in numerous community projects, and Katie Lloyd, a cat rescue volunteer.

Business Woman and Woman of the Year - Kavita Oberoi from Oberoi Consulting, Liva Alberta from Concierge Estates and Kate Hardcastle from Insight with Passion.

Youth Award - Singer Melissa Steele, Ashleigh Mae Bowers and Amy Barker.

The event is supported by British Airways, which will be donating a return flight to New York for the Woman of the Year award recipient.