Diversity Heroes shortlisted for UK’s Largest Diversity Awards
Charities and Role Models from across the UK will gather at the breathtaking Anglican Cathedral on September 18th 2015 for The National Diversity Awards.
The Best of British Diversity will flock to Liverpool to celebrate the outstanding achievements of those who have demonstrated their devotion to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion in today’s society.
Over 20,000 nominations and votes were received this year, paying tribute to grass root communities nationwide.
The full list of shortlisted nominees are as follows:
Positive Role Models for Age
| Adnan Davod | Bilal Awan | Elly Barnes | Jake Watts |
| Nadia Clarke | Louise Liddle-McGhee | Rebecca Parkin | Tunji Akintokun |
Positive Role Models for Disability
| Jonathan Andrews | Monique Craine | Oliver Hellowell | Suzie Jones |
| Simon Green | Sam Cleasby | Nicola Miles-Wildin | Christopher Malpas |
Positive Role Models for Gender
| Polly Harrar | Debra Searle MBE | Natasha Goldthorpe | Shane Ryan |
| Sonia Bate | Cindy Edwards | Placida Acheru | Funke Abimbola |
Positive Role Models for LGBT
| Kathy Caton | Megan Key | Phil Forder | Samantha Truelove |
| Jake Graf | Sanjay Sood-Smith | Gary Zetter | Jude Woods |
Positive Role Models for Race, Religion & Faith
| Mike Chappell | Fred Suadwa | Indy Hothi | Phillip Leong |
| Myira Khan | Nathaniel Peat | Vicky Beeching | Naheed Nazir |
Entrepreneurs of Excellence
| Byron Cole – The BLC Group | Lina Naima – FACE4MUSIC | Justin Edgar – 104 Films Limited | Amar Latif – Traveleyes |
| Luke Rodgers – Foster Focus | Stephanie Wright – Sefton & Liverpool Women in Business | Craig Grimes – Experience Community CIC | Mavis Amankwah – Rich Vision |
Community Organisations for Age
| ACE Aspiration Creation Elevation | Active Impact | Include Me Too | Diversity Role Models |
| Crosshill School | Young Identity | North City Play | Tylers Trust |
Community Organisations for Disability
| Focus Liverpool | St Andrews Healthcare | CASPA | ChAPS |
| Disability Rocks | FND Hope | Anna Kennedy Online | Havering Dementia Action Alliance |
Community Organisations for Gender
| Asian Women Mean Business | Nyasa Daughters of Nottingham | Cervical Cancer Support Group | Saheli |
| Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer | Aurora New Dawn Asian Women Mean Business | JAN Trust | Muslim Womens Network UK |
Community Organisations for LGBT
| Broken Rainbow | Foyle Pride | Trans Men Support & Advice UK | No Going Back |
| Planet London | Mermaids | Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus | Out & Proud Diamond Group |
Community Organisations for Race, Religion & Faith
| Ujima Radio | 3FF Three Faiths Forum | Polish Expats | Merseyside Network for Change |
| Nubian Jak | Hikmat Devon | ArtsEkta | UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group |
Community Organisations for Multi-Strand
| Leeds Beckett SU | Liverpool Homeless FC | BCfm | Darlington Independent Advice Group |
| Result CIC | Buddy Buddy Scheme | BollyGOOD | SELF |
Diverse Companies
| British Transport Police | Calico | Victim Support | West Midlands Police |
| Contracts IT | Royal Navy | Steve Biko Housing Association | Staffordshire & West Midlands CRC |
| Circle Housing | Office for National Statistics |
Lifetime Achievers
| Dr Neville Brown | Sally Carr | Jenny Sealey MBE | Marion Aslan |
| Carol Steele | Dr Nasser Siabi OBE | Caron Drucker | Liz Kelly |
The prestigious black tie event is definitely one to mark down on your calendar and provides recognition for excellence regardless of race, faith, religion, gender, identity, sexual orientation, age, disability and culture.
Microsoft will be just one of the brands supporting a skyfall of diversity talent alongside Barclays, The Army, Financial Ombudsman Service, Liverpool City Council, Penna, Mouchel, MI5, PwC, ThoughtWorks, Transport for London and The Open University.
Barclays commented ‘We understand the commercial relevance of diversity and are therefore proud to sponsor the National Diversity Awards as the spirit of these awards aligns with the way we do business. We would like to congratulate all of the nominees and winners this year and wish them every success.’
TV personality Brian Dowling also expressed his delight in returning to host the ceremony, He said: ‘I am so excited to host The National Diversity Awards again! I have witnessed the awards go from strength to strength since its formation and I am always truly taken back by the humbling and uplifting stories of all the nominees and award winners. I can’t wait to get on stage for what is sure to be another extraordinary evening!’
Designed to highlight the country’s most inspirational and selfless people, the NDA’s are supported by the likes of Brian Blessed, Adam Hills and Ade Adepitan amongst many
Comedian and actor Stephen Fry said, ‘Four years on and The National Diversity Awards are continuing to have a positive impact across the whole of the UK. The awards have grown, and with it, so has the vast array of unsung diversity heroes being recognised nationwide.
It is crucial that we challenge discrimination head on, and the NDA’s unite those that dedicate their lives to the cause. Long may this continue’. He added.
Previous winners include Huddersfield based Disability Theatre Group Shabang!, Freedom Fighting Refugee Aderonke Apata, and domestic violence campaigner Karen Ingala Smith.
Winners will be announced at The National Diversity Awards 2015