A whopping total of 24,584 people nominated this year alone and the results are finally in for the National Diversity Awards (NDA), with an astonishing 124 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.
Community organisations and role models from across the UK will head to the breathtaking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on September 14 to witness the countries 2018 winners being crowned the best of British diversity.
Amongst those being honoured are freedom fighters, domestic violence campaigners and trans rights activists, all of whom work tirelessly to combat injustice and discrimination in very different ways.
Designed to highlight the country’s most inspirational and selfless people, the NDA’s continue to gain endorsements from high profile figures such as Stephen Fry, Sir Lenny Henry CBE and Graham Norton.
Previous winners include Huddersfield based Disability Theatre Group Shabang!, disabled bodybuilder James Sutliff and transgender support charity Mermaids.
Paul Sesay, Founder and CEO of the National Diversity Awards said “An overwhelming amount of nominations and votes were received this year, and I know our judging panel had an incredibly difficult task of whittling down the nominees to create an outstanding shortlist.
“So many heartfelt testimonies really showcased how these people and organisations are having a profound impact on the lives of others, and I applaud them for their dedication to each specific cause. Congratulations to all of our shortlisted nominees, it is a privilege to recognise your bravery, resilience and courage and I am honoured to share this with the nation. I look forward to congratulating you in person in September”.
The full list of shortlisted nominees
Positive Role Model Age: Sally Kingdon, Callum Carr, Anaya Kamara, James Middlehurst, Jade Sutton, Abdul-Karim Adbullah, Siena Castellon, Ricky Kandohla
Positive Role Model Disability: Rachel Jury, Dr Robert Gurney, Lorna Fillingham, Nana Marfo, Melissa Johns, Cameron Osburn, Sophie Ward, Stuart Thompson
Positive Role Model Gender: Katie Kelleher, Leanne Pero, Alex Storer, Anna Smith Higgs, Rachael Pearson, Julie Baker, Georgia Powell, Gill Leno
Positive Role Model LGBT: Tracy O’Hara, Shaun Dellenty, Khakan Qureshi, Jason Jones, Abbey Kiwanuka, Virginie Assal,Rebecca Tallon De Havilland, Sgt Guy Lowe-Barrow
Positive Role Model Race, Faith Religion: Naomi Grant, Nilesh Dosa, Aba Graham, Mothiur Rahman, Salma Bi, Billy Yu-Lok Ng, Manraj Othi, Robert Kasanga
Community Organisation Age: Merseyside Scouts, The Renewal Trust, Opening Doors London, Manchester Cares, Strength Within Me (S.W.I.M) Foundation, Arran Youth Foundations, Birmingham Youth Sports Academy (BYSA), Manchester Cares, Buddy Up
Community Organisation Disability: Hypo Hounds, SupERkids, ADHD Foundation, Autism Rocks, Spinal Unit Recreational Fund, Zebedee Management, The Barrie Wells Trust, Fightback4Justice
Community Organisation Gender: Colouring Outside the Lines, Body Positive, MenTalkHealth, WomenCentre, All Women’s Network, The SAFE project, Action Breaks Silence, Savera UK
Community Organisation LGBT: My Genderation, Breakout Youth, The Proud Trust, Safe Haven, SAIL NI, AZ Magazine, KCC Live, Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre
Community Organisation Race, Faith, Religion: 3FF, KeshetUK, Mary Seacole House, Rosetta Arts, Black History Walks, Chineke! Foundation, Kick It Out, Wirral Change
Community Organisation Multi Strand: RJC Dance, iichild, Active Recovery, Feed the Homeless, Grant a Smile, St. Johns Centre, Barton Peveril Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, Radio Reverb
Entrepreneur of Excellence: Rossie Stone, Andrew Slorance, Jullian Kowalchuk, Geoff Holt MBE, Chris Jelev, Ndu Uchea, Jude Philip, Tanya Laird
Diverse Company: Morgan Sindall, Yorkshire Water, LM-JV, West Yorkshire Police, Cheshire Constabulary, Reed Smith LLP, Touchstone, TransPennine Express, Gateshead College, Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Celebrity of the Year: John Bishop, Anna Friel, Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, June Sarpong MBE, Warwick Davis, Fearne Cotton, Sir Lenny Henry CBE, Clare Balding OBE, Lee Ridley AKA Lost Voice Guy, Thandie Newton
Lifetime Achiever: Anne Ross, Tony Carlisle, Dionne Johnson, Alan Bell, Maggie Georgopoulos, Lewis Turner, Juney Muhammad, Anthony Durrant MBE JP
Winners will be announced at The National Diversity Awards 2018 on September 14th. Tickets are now on sale here: http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/tickets/
