The UK has revealed this year’s National Diversity Awards diversity and inclusion champions.
Charities, role models and community heroes were honoured at the 2022 ceremony, which showcased their outstanding devotion to enhancing equality, diversity and inclusion. A record-breaking 75,000 people were nominated this year alone, with 126 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.
“What began as a simple idea back in 2011 has now become a diverse family of thousands of people from all across the UK”, tated Paul Sesay, Founder of the National Diversity Awards. “I continue to be extremely proud of everyone involved and remain humbled by the astonishing work that is being carried out by individuals residing from grass root communities who effectively inspire, encourage and uplift others to achieve unbelievable accomplishments.”
Generation Success Founder James Adeleke scooped the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award for delivering life-changing support to young people from disadvantaged minorities. The social entrepreneur’s vision is to empower the young generation to excel and create a network that advances social mobility by empowering people of diversity to reach their career aspirations.
CELEBRITY OF THE YEAR AWARD
One of the most recognisable names in sport Col Dame Kelly Holmes won Celebrity of the Year Award for guiding disadvantaged young people. In June this year, Dame Kelly publicly came out as gay, in a powerful documentary called Kelly Holmes: Being Me. She explains how after 34 years she finally feels free to be her authentic self.
Kelly Holmes received an MBE in 1998 for services to the military and after leaving the Army. She then set her sights on the Olympics. Kelly is an Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth multi-medallist. She is also the first woman in Great Britain to win two Gold Medals at the same Olympic Games.
LIFETIME ACHIEVER AWARD
CEO of the ADHD Foundation Neurodiversity Charity, Dr Tony Lloyd, received the prestigious lifetime achiever award. He had a list of tremendous achievements for being a pioneering advocate for neurodiversity in health, education and business. Dr Tony Lloyd also plays an active role in national forums to campaign for changes in policy and the design and delivery of public services. He is also actively involved in promoting neurodiversity in the workplace, and co-authored several national reports on ADHD and neurodiversity in the UK.
The Neurodiversity Umbrella Project, established by Dr Lloyd and the Foundation, has also become an internationally recognised annual event that celebrates ‘diversity of minds’.
POSITIVE ROLE MODELS & COMMUNITIES
NatWest Group scooped the Diverse Company Award. The LUNA Project was hailed for supporting young people with disabilities through friendship, workshops and vital resources. Steph’s Place was commended for providing a voice for the UK transgender and non-binary community. Independent Domestic Abuse Services was applauded for working with more than 10,000 victims and survivors of domestic abuse across Yorkshire.
GIN UK (LGBTQIA Indian Network) beat seven other competitors for connecting 1,400 LGBTQ+ community members of Indian and South Asian Heritage. Bradford 4 Better emerged as winners of the Multi-Strand category for empowering the residents of Bradford to make positive changes.
Gamal Turawa, the Met Police’s first openly gay Black officer (and the protagonist of the 2022 BAFTA winning Best British Short film, ‘The Black Cop’), scooped the Positive Role Model Award for gender. The UK’s first openly transgender rapper Nate Ethan Watson won the LGBT Role Model of the Year Award. Finally, history teacher Josh Preye Garry scooped the Positive Role Model for race, faith and religion and driving the conversation around Black history.
2022’S DIVERSITY CHAMPIONS
The full list of winners for this year’s National Diversity Awards, include:
- Positive Role Model for Age: Melissa Grace McComas
- Positive Role Model for Disability: Sebbie Hall
- Positive Role Model for Gender: Gamal Turawa
- Positive Role Model for LGBT: Nate Ethan Watson
- Positive Role Model for Race, Faith & Religion: Josh Preye Garry
- Community Organisation Award for Age: Amberleigh Care
- Community Organisation Award for Disability: The LUNA Project
- Community Organisation Award for Gender: Independent Domestic Abuse Services (IDAS)
- Community Organisation Award for LGBT: Steph’s Place
- Community Organisation Award for Race, Faith & Religion: GIN UK (LGBTQIA Indian Network)
- Community Organisation Award for Multi-strand: Bradford 4 Better
- Entrepreneur of Excellence: James Adeleke
- Celebrity of the Year: Col Dame Kelly Holmes MBE
- Diverse Company: NatWest Group
- Lifetime Achiever: Dr Tony Lloyd
Check out last year’s winners here.
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