A TIRELESS campaigner has found herself in the final running for a Pride of Swindon Award.

The Adver can reveal that Kate Linnegar has made the judge's shortlist for this year's awards in light of the work she has carried out as part of Swindon People's Assembly, and a moving demonstration last year representing the plight of refugees.

Her nominator told the judges: "Kate is a tireless activist and campaigner for change, and has given unstintingly of her time for a number of local organisations and charities.

Passionate about social justice and equality, she has been the secretary and the chair of the local People's Assembly organisation and has led a number of high profile campaigns on a diverse range of issues such as fighting to improve rights for workers, to welcome refugees to the town, to keep children's centres open and to save Swindon's libraries.

"She is also active in many other groups and just recently has taken part in the Threshold homeless charity's sponsored sleep-out and visited Calais with the Oxfordshire Refugee Solidarity group to help support refugees and asylum seekers and worked as part of a small group of hardworking volunteers preparing over 2000 meals per day in the Refugee Community Kitchen. Totally in keeping with her personality, the first thing she did when returning home was to reach out to her networks to see if there was any interest in setting up a Swindon branch of the group to ensure more support was offered.

"She is hugely generous of her time and Kate was also responsible for one of the most moving demonstrations in the town in recent years."

This saw her organise the heart breaking memorial of empty shoes in Faringdon Road park, each pair of shoes representing one of the refugees who was lost at sea making the treacherous journey to the UK. "Seeing the empty shoes, especially the tiny children’s shoes on display, was a sobering reminder of the tragic loss of life that continues to happen," her nominator said. "Kate then ensured that all of the shoes went to charities and organisations supporting the homeless, both at home and abroad, to make sure that the memorial had a lasting positive impact.

Kate said it was a "great honour" to be shortlisted for an award. She said: "I am pleased to be alongside the amazing people who have been nominated over the years. It’s a strange position to be in when one is a campaigner.

"To campaign successfully one has to be loud and clearly heard. Raising awareness is vital even if it means getting well out of one’s comfort zone on occasion. I certainly wasn’t brought up to wave banners, march in the street and use a megaphone! I campaign for change and am passionate about social justice, inclusion and equality. I work with fabulous people locally and across the country to give voice to people who cannot for whatever reason, do it themselves.

"I support existing campaign groups and encourage others to do the same. This has resulted in some positive changes to policies and personally to people’s lives.

"On a practical level we collect aid and deliver it to the foodbank here in Swindon and refugees in Calais. All of the issues I work around are caused by people in power making decisions which affect others. People working together can make a positive difference.

"All I do is encourage people to work with me. There are thousands of great people all over Swindon doing valuable work to assist others and enrich their lives. I just try to persuade others to join us.

"By standing together we can make positive changes to our society and communities."

Kate will have to wait until March 22 to find out if she has won an award when the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Steam.