HEATHER Green re-mortgaged her family home to set up a community centre for young people in danger of falling into drink, drugs and gang warfare.

Now the 47-year-old grandmother - who looks after more than 300 children in her spare time - has been named one of the North West's most inspirational women at a glittering ceremony.

Heather and husband, Lenox, set up the Rainbow Christian Centre charity in Hulme 13 years ago from their front room before remortgaging their house to raise the money for a bigger community centre.

Self-funded

Their mission is to show children that there is more to life than drink, drugs and gang culture, with free arts and music activities. Apart from the occasional grant, the work has been entirely self-funded.

At the Inspiring Women Awards at Manchester's Midland Hotel, Heather vowed to spend her é500 prize money for winning the community category on the 316 children at the centre who mean so much to her.

"This cheque means a lot because it is 10 per cent of our whole income for last year," she said. "But it's not about the money - it's about belief in the children. These children don't believe there are opportunities out there for them. We try to inspire them to believe in themselves, that is what it's all about."

Tears

Heather's dedication to her fundraising, and the remarkable stories of the other nominees in the community category, brought guests at the lunch ceremony to tears. Fellow community finalist Ros Rahim, from Didsbury, has fostered more than 300 children over the past 30 years, while Tahira Khan-Sindhu has been a tireless campaigner in Old Trafford after setting up the first Asian Women's group in the area.

Former MP Michael Portillo, guest speaker at the event, said: "It's humbling to listen to the stories we have heard today. These women inspire us to have dreams and to set ourselves our own challenges."

The Inspiring Women Awards, formerly known as Winning Women, was set up to honour the achievements of women in business and the community.

Pudding

Margaret Hacking won the arts award for her work as a volunteer at the Anson Engine Museum in Higher Poynton, working to preserve the region's industrial heritage.

Business category winner Helen Colley faced disaster when her marquee company was ruined by foot and mouth disease.

Undeterred, she set up catering Farmhouse Foods and now supplies sticky toffee puddings to the House of Commons.

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