The National Diversity Awards
The National Diversity Awards is an awards ceremony which honours positive role models, entrepreneurs and community organisations across several different strands within the equality and diversity sector. It is held annually in various venues across the United Kingdom.
Founded by current CEO, Paul Sesay, who is also the founder and CEO of I Spoil U Media and The Diversity Group, The National Diversity Awards launched in 2012.[1]
The National Diversity Awards 2015 will take place in The Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool on the 18th September.[2]
Award Strands and Categories
The awards are honoured to individuals, charities and community organisations across five different strands: Age; Disability; Gender; LGBT; and Race, Faith and Religion.
The National Diversity Awards consist of the Positive Role Model award, the Entrepreneur of Excellence award, the Community Organisation award, the Diverse Company award and the Lifetime Achiever award.
The Positive Role Model and the Community Organisation award categories are split across each of The National Diversity Awards’ five strands, whilst the Community Organisation category also consists of a multi-strand award.
The Entrepreneur of Excellence award "recognises individuals who have best demonstrated managerial expertise in assembling resources, creating an organisation, decision making under uncertainty, being forward looking, and creatively solving problems." [3]
In addition to this, the Diverse Company award is an individual honour which recognises a company’s commitment to encouraging “people from the most deprived areas to further their careers” [3]
The Lifetime Achiever award is another individual honour which recognises a person’s “significant, innovative and cumulatively outstanding contributions to enhancing the practice of equality and diversity, devoting a major portion of their professional career to the cause." [3]
Nominations and Judges
Nominations for the National Diversity Awards typically run between January and July of each year, with the awards being held later in September.
The National Diversity Awards are judged each year by leading figures in diversity across the United Kingdom. Judges include Jane Czyzselska of DIVA, Rob Berkley of Runnymede Trust, and Mark Shrimpton of Disability Rights UK, who participate in an evaluation of nominees. Their recommendations for winners in various award categories are announced annually at the National Diversity Awards ceremony.[3]
Hosts
2012 saw the launch of The National Diversity Awards and was hosted by Irish television presenter and winner of the second series of Big Brother, Brian Dowling.
In 2013, Dowling was invited back to host the awards and was joined by co-host and CBeebies presenter, Cerrie Burnell, who was previously a celebrity patron of the event in 2012.
Dowling and Burnell were the official hosts of The National Diversity Awards 2014.[4]
The National Diversity Awards 2015 hosts are still yet to be confirmed.
Venues
The National Diversity Awards are hosted in a different venue across the United Kingdom each year. The Awards launched at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on 21 September 2012,[5] before moving to The Queens Hotel in Leeds on 20 September 2013.[6] The Awards were then taken to the city's capital where the 2014 ceremony was held in The Hurlingham Club in London on 26 September.
The National Diversity Awards 2015 will take place in The Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool on 18 September.
Celebrity Patrons
Since its launch in 2012, The National Diversity Awards has attracted support from several celebrity patrons who either represent or support the equality and diversity sector.
Amongst The National Diversity Awards celebrity patrons are contemporary R&B and hip hop artist, Misha B,[7] Peter Tatchell;[8] wheelchair Paralympic Quad double Gold medallist, Peter Norfolk OBE; Paralympic Gold medallist, cyclist and former swimmer, Jody Cundy;[9] Paralympian volleyball player, Claire Harvey; stars of Channel 4 television documentary, My Transsexual Summer, Drew-Ashlyn Cunningham [10] and Lewis Hancox;[11] and transsexual beauty queen, Jackie Green.[12]
Television presenter, Cerrie Burnell, was also a celebrity patron of The National Diversity Awards before taking on co-hosting duties with Brian Dowling in 2013.
Celebrity Endorsers
The National Diversity Awards has received a number of endorsements from celebrities across the United Kingdom, including Stephen Fry, who said:
“The UK is becoming more and more diverse. It is valuable that a national event is being held to celebrate our differences. Even now in today’s modern society we are still tackling issues of prejudice and discrimination so it is important to come together and focus on those who have demonstrated an outstanding work ethic in order to enhance equality, diversity and inclusion. I am sure The National Diversity Awards will have nothing but a positive outcome for years to come, I wish the event every success.” [3][13]
R&B and soul singer, Beverley Knight, is also an endorser of The National Diversity Awards, who supported the event by saying, “I love the idea that there is an awards ceremony that celebrates our differences and their positive effect on all our lives.” [3][13]
Other celebrities to give public backing towards The National Diversity Awards include Brian Blessed,[8] Katie Piper,[2] Trevor Nelson, Meera Syal,[14] Gareth Thomas,[15] Javine Hylton, Gina Yashere, Tessa Sanderson, Chris Boardman, Ade Adepitan,[7] Danny Crates, Karen Darke, Sarah Storey,[13] Barney Storey [16] and Amal Fashanu.[3][7]
Sponsors, Media Sponsors and Associates
The National Diversity Awards has been supported by current headline sponsor, Microsoft, since its launch in 2012.[17]
Other organisations to have supported The National Diversity Awards through sponsorship include The Diversity Group, I Spoil U Media, Lloyds Banking Group, MI5 Security Service,[18] Penna plc, The Army, PwC, London School of Academics, Liverpool City Council, Mouchel, Financial Ombudsman Service, The Open University, Transport for London, ThoughtWorks, Riverside, Easy Internet Solutions,[19] Veredus, PSS, Cardiff School of Education, Merseyside Police Authority, The Co-Operative, Sky, and Q Hotels.
The Awards have also been supported through several media sponsors including Gaydio,[20] Gay Star News,[18] The Voice (newspaper), Asian Lite, and Able Magazine.[2]
Associates and judges of the Awards have included Platform 51, The Fawcett Society, Runnymede Trust, DIVA, ENEI and Disability Rights UK.[16]
History
The National Diversity Awards was founded by current CEO, Paul Sesay, who launched the awards in 2012. It is held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise and honour individuals and organisations for their achievements within the equality and diversity sector.
2012
The first ceremony was held at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on 21 September 2012 and was hosted by Brian Dowling. The Awards were held in association with Microsoft, with entertainment coming from 2012 MOBO Unsung Award Winner, Esco Williams, and first series semi-finalist of The Voice UK, Ruth Brown.
2012 Winners
Positive Role Model Age: Michael Burton
Positive Role Model Disability: Liam Mackin
Positive Role Model Gender: Bekezela Nsingo
Positive Role Model LGBT: Paris Lees
Positive Role Model Race: Zita Holbourne
Community Organisation Age: Northampton Youth Forum
Community Organisation Disability: Disability Online
Community Organisation Gender: Amadudu
Community Organisation LGBT: MindOut
Community Organisation Race: Anthony Walker Foundation
Entrepreneur of Excellence Age: Julie Robinson, founder of Move it or lose it
Entrepreneur of Excellence Disability: Dom Smith, founder of Soundsphere Magazine and co-founder of Disabled Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneur of Excellence Gender: Sheila Singh, founder of London School of Academics
Entrepreneur of Excellence LGBT: Tris Reid-Smith, co-founder of Gay Star news
Entrepreneur of Excellence Race: Mark Esho, founder of Easy internet Services and Solutions
Diverse Company: The Co-operative Group
Lifetime Achiever: Peter Tatchell
2013
The 2013 Awards were held in association with Microsoft at The Queens Hotel in Leeds on 20 September and were hosted by Brian Dowling and Cerrie Burnell. The night’s main entertainment came from contemporary R&B and hip hop artist, Misha B, who is also a patron of the event, whilst former footballer, Sol Campbell, presented the Lifetime Achiever award.
The National Diversity Awards 2013 was later televised on The Community Channel courtesy of Sky at 9pm on 8 November 2013.[1][21]
2013 Winners
Positive Role Model Age: Aaron Anderson
Positive Role Model Disability: Rachel Gadsden
Positive Role Model Gender: Vivienne Hayes
Positive Role Model LGBT: Grace Cardozo
Positive Role Model Race, Faith & Religion: David Michael
Community Organisation Age: Bristol Older Peoples Forum
Community Organisation Disability: Taking Flight Theatre Company
Community Organisation Gender: West End Women and Girls Centre
Community Organisation LGBT: Birmingham LGBT
Community Organisation Race, Faith & Religion: UK Black Pride
Community Organisation Multi-Strand: Chase against Crimes of Hate
Entrepreneur of Excellence Age: Carly Ward
Entrepreneur of Excellence Disability: Dave Thompson MBE
Entrepreneur of Excellence Gender: Jessica Elliott
Entrepreneur of Excellence Race, Faith & Religion: Jessica Huie
Diverse Company: Farnell element14
Lifetime Achiever: James Partridge OBE
2014
The 2014 Awards were held in association with Microsoft at The Hurlingham Club in London on 26 September. The ceremony was hosted by Brian Dowling and Cerrie Burnell.
The evening’s main entertainment came from the sensational R&B artist, Lemar, whilst former paralympian, Ade Adepitan, presented the Lifetime Achiever award. The evening also contained special appearances from the hosts of Channel 4’s ‘The Last Leg’, Adam Hills & Alex Brooker.
The National Diversity Awards 2014 was later televised on The Community Channel courtesy of Sky at 9pm on 21 December 2014, 10pm on 26th December 2014 & 9pm on 30 December 2014.
To view highlights of The National Diversity Awards 2014 at The Hurlingham Club Click Here.
2014 Winners
Positive Role Model Age: Mohammed Zafran
Positive Role Model Disability: Sarah Chapman
Positive Role Model Gender: Karen Ingala Smith
Positive Role Model LGBT: Aderonke Apata
Positive Role Model Race: Sonia Meggie
Community Organisation Age: All Sorts Youth Project
Community Organisation Disability: Shabang!
Community Organisation Gender: Working With Men
Community Organisation LGBT: London Friend
Community Organisation Race: African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust
Community Organisation Multi-Strand: The Give Em Hope Campaign
Entrepreneur of Excellence: Rioch Edwards Brown
Diverse Company: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Lifetime Achiever: Dilys Price OBE
Special Recognition Award: Steve Sutton MBE
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Diversity Awards 2013 – who will you nominate?". The Open University. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Hurlingham Club to Host National Diversity Awards". Able Magazine. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "The Awards Categories". The National Diversity Awards. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "Nominate for the National Diversity Awards!". Gscene Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "PRESS RELEASE: DISABILITY ONLINE WINS A NATIONAL DIVERSITY AWARD". Disability Online. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "West End Women and Girls Centre- Winners of Community Organisation Gender National Diversity Award 2013". West End Women. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "National Diversity Awards Shortlist Announced". The Voice Newspaper. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Nominations for the National Diversity Awards". The-Villager.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "UK Celebrities applaud National Diversity Awards". Able Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- ↑ "National Diversity Awards Announces 2012 Patrons". DIVA Magazine. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- ↑ "lewishancox.com/press". lewishancox.com/press. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "UK celebs come out in force to celebrate diversity". Gay Star News. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Celebrities come out in force to support The National Diversity Awards 2012!". Percy Hedley Foundation. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "Nominations open for Diversity Awards". Asian Lite Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "UK Celebrities Applaud National Diversity Awards". The Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Two Manchester Paralympians praise National Diversity Awards, as nominee shortlist released". Mancunian Matters. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "MICROSOFT SPONSORS DIVERSITY AWARDS IN 2013". Gay UK News. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "British spy service MI5 gets licence to thrill at diversity awards". Gay Star News. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "Sponsorship". Easy Internet Services and Solutions. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "Peter Tatchell Wins Lifetime Achievement Award". DIVA Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
- ↑ "National Diversity Awards 2013". Community Channel. Retrieved 31 January 2014.