The Women’s Sport Trust, a UK-based charity that raises the visibility and impact of women’s sport, has opened up public voting for the 2016 #BeAGameChangerAwards.

The awards are designed to showcase talent from across UK women’s sport, and to highlight the need for media, sponsors and the public to invest.

An expert panel met in early April to decide the finalists. The panel deliberated over a shortlist of 65, the list can be found here, in the categories of:

Sporting Role Model – individual

Sporting Role Model – team

Ambassador of Women’s Sport

Sponsor partnership

Governing body of the Year

Inspiring initiative – local

Inspiring initiative – national

Media Initiative of the Year

Journalist of the Year

Imagery of the Year

The #BeAGameChangerAwards help continue to raise the profile of women’s sport and celebrate its success. Last year’s event recognised Olympians, para- Olympians, campaigners and BBC Sport for their contributions.

Jo Bostock, co-founder of the Women’s Sport Trust, added: “The momentum behind women’s sport has never been greater – but it still requires ongoing investment, media attention and leadership for that progress to be sustainable. In this, an Olympic year, our Awards recognise those individuals and organisations who are helping to realise the full potential of women’s sport. They demonstrate how sport has the power to accelerate gender equality and tell great stories.”

The voting is open until 1 May, the winners will be announced at the Women’s Sport Trust #BeAGameChanger Awards in Central London on 12 May 2016.