A RUNCORN community champion who realised her dream of running a café has been honoured with a prestigious business award.

Amanda McDonald, founder of Macy's Café, was honoured at the Celebrating Enterprising Women Awards at Liverpool's Oh Me Oh My restaurant and bar.

Organised by Liverpool-based social enterprise The Women’s Organisation, the awards honour the region's most outstanding female-led business ventures, and illustrated the rising levels of start-ups being created throughout the Liverpool City Region by women.

The organisation supports women in Halton, through European Regional Development Fund supported programme Enterprise Hub, to start and grow their own businesses Among the 13 award winners.

Amanda was recognised with the Social Impact Award for her café venture.

For many years she had a dream of running her own café and her dream became a reality when she opened the doors to Macy’s Café back in January.

Based in The Grange Community Centre, Amanda has created an authentic space at the heart of her local community.

Along with serving fresh, quality cooked food at affordable prices, Macy’s café has a strong social objective and provides free hot meals, drinks and essential supplies to those in need.

This is, in large part, thanks to access to a community fridge and store cupboard for those in need.

Filled with fresh food products, along with toiletries, sanitary products, nappies and clothing, the stock receives generous donations from businesses and people alike and is built on Amanda's ethos of "take when you need, put back when you can".

Going that step further, Amanda even provides free hot meals for those in need – becoming a vital lifeline for many in her community.

Amanda said: "One man in particular had been living on the streets and depended on regular hot meals from Macy’s café and was provided with fresh clothes, toiletries and a tent, until he eventually found employment and a home of his own.

"That same man today contributes to the community fridge in support of others."

Enterprise Hub works to support men and women in Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsely, Wirral, St Helens and Halton to explore their business ideas and prepares them to get started, or develop a strategy for growth for fledgling enterprises.