By Pam McClounie

Last updated 09:29, Friday, 28 November 2008

THE woman who helped transform life on Carlisle’s troubled Raffles estate for thousands of people has been named Cumbria Woman of the Year.

‘An amazing lady’: Cumbria Woman of the Year 2008 Kath Queen, from Raffles, Carlisle, who was honoured for years of work on the city estate

Kath Queen, 60, of Cranbourne Road, set up the estate’s Living Well Trust 10 years ago which now has a turnover of £350,000. Collecting the award, an emotional Kath said: “I’m accepting this for Raffles.”

Kath spent many happy days on the Raffles estate at her grandmother’s home when it was a tree-lined model council estate with a thriving community. But by the early 1990s it had turned into one of the city’s worst trouble spots with parts of the estate becoming no-go areas after dark.

Raffles had a bad reputation for crime, disorder, feuding and unemployment.

When it seemed that everyone had given up on Raffles, Kath rose to protect everything she held dear and set out to make a real difference.

While working at Newtown Community Primary School she set up a breakfast club but knew that a drop-in centre was also vital. Rob Bell, who ran Raffles post office, offered Kath premises to work from and together with Pastor Barrie Thomas, they set up the Living Well Trust.

The trust caters for parents and children every week through a number of classes and clubs including a midwifery clinic, antenatal and postnatal sessions and exam classes for pupils who have been expelled from school.

Kath said: “To be recognised like this is just mind-blowing. I’m really pleased.

“I’ve worked on the estate for 34 years and I love it. I love the people and I get a lot back.

“I would like to thank my co-worker Barrie Thomas who empowered me to work so hard on the estate. I am just overwhelmed and amazed.”

Tess Hart, vice-chairman on the Cumbria Women of the Year committee, said: “Kath is an amazing lady and has achieved so much for the city estate in which she was born and has dedicated her life.

“Kath gained the trust of families in difficult circumstances by not condemning or judging them. She does not rescue people but equips them to learn how to cope for themselves.

“Her abundance of energy, vision, faith and motivation has brought together a team of support workers to assist the people of Raffles to feel pride in themselves again and trust in the work of the Living Well Trust.”