A MODEST woman driven by a desire to challenge injustice and inequality has been shortlisted for the Inspiring Women awards.

Pam Arnold, a founder of The Relationships Centre, in Sankey Street, has been named as one of the three finalists in the social entrepreneurs category, which recognises the outstanding achievements of women.

She said: “I never thought I would be involved in something so life changing but I definitely don’t define myself as an entrepreneur.

“I am proud of it and very proud of the next phase of developing the charity into a life skills academy.”

The 48-year-old was nominated by Lucy Hindmarch, acting director of the Gateway-based charity, for turning her passion for healthy relationships into a mission to address inequalities and promote social justice for all.

Pam, of Butts Green, Westbrook, became an entrepreneur through circumstance after moving from Stafford to Warrington in 1999 to take on the role of a domestic violence co-ordinator.

The domestic violence forum suggested that she helped to set up a one-stop shop for victims of abuse and she has never looked back.

She has seen the organisation grow from there being just one staff member in a rented office to 15 staff and 15 volunteers across three sites.

Ten years later, after helping raise more than £4milion to deliver services for the charity, the grandmother-of-one, to two-year-old Ryan Whitehouse, plans to step down from her role and work towards the creation of the life skills academy.

The project would see the services provided from a central base, allowing people to benefit from skills such as gardening and DIY taught by members of the community.

She added: “If I won I would feel really chuffed for the Warrington community because it is recognising the charity is a benefit to everybody. What is important is the people that come here and give us their pain, hurt and problems so we can help them to mend them, it’s for them.”

She said that if anyone has given her reason to be inspired it is her late dad Raphael Arana who moved to England from Spain when he was 10 years old during the Spanish Civil War.

On the competition’s submission form Lucy Hindmarch wrote: “If I had to describe Pam’s style it would be uncompromising, tenacious, someone who fights for what is right, well read and someone who researches her topic areas to ensure well informed decisions are taken following logically and factually correct discussions.

“She will always challenge when she thinks it is necessary, even if it makes her unpopular and doesn’t accept anything less than the best – nothing is impossible and saying no is not an option.”

Pam will attend the glamourous event with The Relationships Centre co-founder Alison McCausel and tomorrow, Friday, at Manchester’s Midland Hotel.