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 Model Age: Jake Watts, Bilal Awan, Elly Barnes, Rebecca Parkin, Adnan Davod, Tunji Akintokun, Louise Liddle-McGhee, Nadia Clarke

Positive Role Model Disability: Simon Green, Oliver Hellowell, Suzie Jones, Monique Craine, Sam Cleasby, Nicola Miles-Wildin, Christopher Malpass, Jonathan Andrews

Positive Role Model Gender: Cindy Edwards, Polly Harrar, Sonia Bate, Debra Searle MBE, Shane Ryan, Natasha Goldthorpe, Funke Abimbola, Placida Acheru

Positive Role Model LGBT: Sanjay Sood-Smith, Gary Zetter, Jude Woods, Jake Graf, Kathy Caton, Megan Key, Samantha Truelove, Phil Forder 

Positive Role Model Race, Faith Religion: Nathaniel Peat, Vicky Beeching, Myira Khan, Mike Chappell, Phillip Leong, Fred Suadwa, Indy Hothi, Naheed Nazir 

Community Organisation Age: Crosshill School, Active Impact, Include Me Too, Young Identity, North City Play, ACE Aspiration Creation Elevation, Tyler’s Trust, Diversity Role Models

Community Organisation Disability: Focus Liverpool, AnnaKennedyOnline, Havering Dementia Action Alliance, FND Hope, Disability Rocks, ChAPS, CASPA, St Andrews Healthcare 

Community Organisation Gender: JAN Trust, Aurora New Dawn, Saheli, Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, Asian Women Mean Business, Nyasa Daughters of Nottingham, Cervical Cancer Support Group, Muslim Women’s Network UK

Community Organisation LGBT: Trans Men Support & Advice UK, No Going Back, Planet London, Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus, Foyle Pride, Mermaids, Broken Rainbow, Out & Proud Diamond Group

Community Organisation Race, Faith, Religion: Nubian Jak, Hikmat Devon, 3FF Three Faiths Forum, Polish Expats, Merseyside Network for Change, ArtsEkta, Ujima Radio, UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group

Community Organisation Multi Strand: Liverpool Homeless FC, Result CIC, SELF, Buddy Buddy Scheme, Darlington Independent Advisory Group, BollyGOOD, Leeds Beckett Student Union, BCfm Radio

Entrepreneur of Excellence: Luke Rodgers, Lina Naima, Craig Grimes, Amar Latif, Byron Cole, Stephanie Wright, Justin Edgar, Mavis Amankwah 

Diverse Company: Calico, Staffordshire & West Midlands CRC, Steve Biko Housing Association, Royal Navy, British Transport Police, West Midlands Police, Office for National Statistics, Circle Housing, Contracts IT, Victim Support

Lifetime Achiever: Liz Kelly, Dr Nasser Siabi OBE, Dr Neville Brown, Jenny Sealey MBE, Marion Aslan, Caron Drucker, Sally Carr, Carol Steele

 

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.

 

Founder of The National Diversity Awards, Paul Sesay congratulated nominees ‘The standard of submissions this year was exceptional. To be shortlisted is a testament to the hard work and dedication you have put into to the equality agenda. Congratulations to all nominees, and I look forward to celebrating with you in Liverpool’.

 

Winners will be announced at The National Diversity Awards 2015