As #NDA22 kicks off with excited chatter, beautiful organ music, and a jaw dropping venue, it is clear that nothing will stop the National Diversity Awards from spreading a message of diversity, positivity, and inclusion far and wide tonight, one incredible award-winner at a time.
Liverpool Cathedral can be seen for miles in any direction, and at a towering height of 331 feet, one cannot help but gasp in admiration upon entry. The 11th National Diversity Awards kick off with buzzing nominees pouring in through the cathedral’s impressive double doors, gazing up at the soaring ceilings, appreciating the rich history of what has been in this building, as well as anticipating what will be tonight.
Shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for Age (Sponsored by The Open University): Tony Hudgell, Max Woosey BEM, Helen Coppins, Tanya Marwaha, Isabelle Kirkham, Melissa Grace McComas, Marcus Wilton, and Alison Cope
Shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for Disability (Sponsored by OVO Group and Able): Jessica Logan, Sophie Butler, Conor O’Kane, Evie Meg, Lucy-Marie Phillips, Sebbie Hall, Lyla O’Donovan, and James Hunt
Shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for Gender: Hannah Wilson, Stu Bratt, Jayne Little, Miranda Rae, Jeewan Kala Gurung, Gamal Turawa, Samantha Gould, and Chanel Morrison-Jolley
With 75,000 total nominations, this year’s ceremony is record-breaking in its scope, reaching more diverse people than ever. This is fantastic news to Paul Sesay, the CEO of the National Diversity Awards, who remarked to enthusiastic audience members:
“Everybody is cheering for everybody else, simply because they are amazing human beings.”
Shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT: Sarah Cosgriff, Jim Dolan, Lewis Hancox, Chichi Monroe, Jaide Foster-Howarth, Nate Ethan Watson, Gina Battye, and Surg Lt Cdr Mike Hill
Shortlisted for the Positive Role Model Award for Race, Religion, and Faith (Sponsored by Direct Line Group): Dianne Greyson, Alisha Standing, Issa Farfour, Josh Preye Garry, Uzochi Nwaosu, Alyson Malach, Amrit Singh Mann, and Dionne Da Costa
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Age (Sponsored by Rathbones): Tuition Extra, Cards for Bravery, Kidz4Kidz, The Grand Healthy Living Centre, Be The Change Youth Project CIC, Amberleigh Care, Aberdeen Linking Lives, and Smithswood Access to Services and Support
The only time the cathedral was truly silent was during a minute’s reflection, commemorating our nation’s loss of Her Majesty the Queen. Otherwise, excited chatter bounces off the huge walls of the cathedral, mixing and mingling in the air, transforming into an amalgam of encouragement and good-natured chitchat.
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Disability (Sponsored by Avast Foundation): ALS ARC, Mushroom Theatre Company, The Disability Union, Owl Blue, Shine 21 Dorset Down Syndrome Buddy Club, The LUNA Project, The Positivitree, and SEND Socials Birmingham CIC
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Gender (Sponsored by United Utilities): Elect Her, Independent Domestic Abuse Services, Survivors Manchester, The Evergreen Project, Women’s Engineering Society, 50:50 Parliament, Endometriosis South Coast, and Mthwakazi Queens
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for LGBT (Sponsored by Lush Liverpool): Traveller Pride, Sarbat LGBT+ Sikhs, Spiritual Lesbians and Wellbeing, The Queer Parenting Partnership, Rainbow Toffees, Wolverhampton LGBT+, Leeds GIS’s Gender Outreach Workers, and Steph’s Place UK
Joyous organ music perfectly complements the ethereal voices of a church choir, singing a mixture of classical music and classic hits (a heavenly rendition of “Poker Face” rings through the cathedral). With so many award categories, the cathedral is full of old friends, acquaintances, and first meetings, all supporting each other selflessly, without any hint of aggressive rivalry.
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Race, Religion, and Faith (Sponsored by The British Army): GIN UK (LGBTQIA Indian Network), The Three Hijabis, Ramadan Tent Project, Himaya Haven CIC, Operation Black Vote, Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum, Intermission Youth Theatre, and Medway Culture Club
Shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Multi-Strand (Sponsored by Auto Trader UK): The Lee Cooper Foundation, ReportOut, Bradford 4 Better, Mula Cake Kids Club CIC, Be Kind Movement, Music 4 Children, Speak Out Revolution, and Colourful Beginnings
Shortlisted for the Lifetime Achiever Award: Claire Mooney, Pamela Hutchinson OBE, Jayne Hughes, Deborah Penny, Anna Kennedy OBE, Jonathan Hassell, Dr Tony Lloyd, and Abhnash K Bains
For the 11th annual National Diversity Awards, there is the sense that every shortlisted person tonight is a part of something bigger than themselves. This event will of course shine a much-needed spotlight on some of the brilliant people in our nation, but it will also spread nationwide an idea that cannot be contained; that diversity and inclusivity is the future, and events like these are only the beginning.
Shortlisted for the Diverse Company of the Year Award (Sponsored by MI5, MI6, and GCHQ): NatWest Group, AMS, MSD UK, HSBC, Kantar, Heathrow Airport, Dunelm, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Avast, and NSPCC
Shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of Excellence Award (Sponsored by Kantar): Cheryl Robson, Richard Keane, James Adeleke, Lyndsay Watterson, Pamela Aculey, Andrew Dallhouse, Dexter Simms, and Omair Mahmood
Shortlisted for the Celebrity of the Year Award (In Association with ITV News): Melanie Brown MBE, Sir Lenny Henry, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Ashley Walters, Jake Daniels, Natalie Phillips, Dr Alex George, Liz Carr, Stormzy, Lady Leshurr, Frankie Bridge, and Col Dame Kelly Holmes MBE (Mil)
#NDA22 is a beautiful show of support for incredible people, as well as a beacon for those fighting for diversity worldwide. We wish good luck to all nominees, and wait eagerly to see what tonight will bring.
