The National Diversity Awards Announce 2015 Shortlist

NDA Shortlist ImageDiversity 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

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