A WOMAN who supports more than 200 families has won Kendal’s annual Alfred Wainwright Achievement Award for her ‘passion, dedication and commitment.’

Shirley Gilpin, a project manager at the town’s Family Drop-In Centre, often works six or seven days a week to support families with children with disabilities or complex issues by taking them to the centre, arranging visits and weekend stays.

The 57-year-old said that hearing about her nomination for the first time raised ‘a flood of emotion’ – and she was nervous about speaking in public at Monday’s presentation of the award by Kendal Town Council.

Ms Gilpin, who started as a volunteer in the centre more than 20 years ago, said: “My anxiety levels went through the roof, then I realised that this is exactly what I ask the families who I support to do.

“The families invite me into their life and that’s a massive thing. The leap of faith they make when taking on my judgement is overwhelming at times, and without them I wouldn’t be able to do what I have.”

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Councillors heard Ms Gilpin, who was born and raised in Kendal, was nominated by Roy Slack, chair of the family drop-in centre’s management committee, for her devotion to the centre.

He said that in a lifetime career in the health service he had never known a person as ‘dedicated, committed and passionate’ as her.

The nomination was supported by Cllr Jonathan Brook, who highlighted Ms Gilpin’s role as the driving force behind the centre.

The award dates to June 1989, when former town treasurer and walking guide book author Alfred Wainwright donated £10,000 to the town council to be held in a charitable trust.

Each year the trustees of the charity seek to present an award to the person, club, association, society or other local body that has done most to promote the prestige of Kendal. She was presented with the accolade by Mayor Stephen Coleman.