Marvin OnumonuDiversity champions from across the UK have been shortlisted for the 2025 National Diversity Awards, which is now in its 14th year.
The awards, run by Inclusive Companies with ITV News and headline sponsor HSBC UK, received 85,000 nominations and votes for people, groups and organisations carrying out work on diversity and inclusion.
Finalists include a mentoring group led by neurodivergent people, a network for black autistic women, a grassroots group supporting fathers, and several individuals, such as a blind veteran focusing on accessibility, a youth campaigner on violence, a trans activist, and a designer working on adaptive clothing.
Paul Sesay (pictured, right), founder and CEO of Inclusive Companies, said: “The unsung heroes help us to realise how much goodness and humility there is at the heart of our communities.
“The work these people do and the empathy they show is more important than it has ever been. We are living in a time when funding and support are limited.
“This makes community action invaluable as a resource on which so many people rely. Indeed, for some, it really is a lifeline.”
Rachel Montgomerie, head of people at HSBC UK, said: “As an organisation that deeply values difference, we’re incredibly proud to be a long-time sponsor of the National Diversity Awards – recognising individuals and groups across the UK who are making a positive impact on diversity, equity and inclusion in their organisations and communities.
“We look forward to celebrating all the incredible role models and change makers nominated this year.”
The winners will be announced at an event at Liverpool’s Anglican cathedral on 19th September, hosted by Clare Balding CBE (pictured, left).
Balding said: “I’m thrilled and deeply honoured to return as host for the National Diversity Awards.
“Recognising the individuals, organisations and charities that go above and beyond to improve their communities is truly vital.
“These inspiring and uplifting awards shine a spotlight on the incredible strength and positivity of an inclusive society, celebrating community heroes whose dedication and achievements might otherwise go unrecognised.”
The awards have six categories: Positive Role Model, Community Organisation, Entrepreneur of Excellence, Diverse Company, Celebrity of the Year and Lifetime Achiever.
Categories cover age, disability, gender, LGBT, race, faith and religion, plus multi-strand organisations.
Finalists for Positive Role Model Age include Luke Cato, Issy Hawkins, Katie Killick, Kyrelle Lammy, Ilhora-Lee Louison BCyA, Anton Noble, Sam Ogle and Mohammad Erfan Sharifi.
For Positive Role Model Disability, the finalists are Scott Burns, David Gray-Hammond, Victoria Jenkins, Katie K, Caroline O’Neill, Karolina Pakenaite, Aidy Smith and Nick Wilson.
In the Positive Role Model Gender category, finalists are Holly Hostettler-Davies, Natasha Day MBE, Hilda Hwoffie, Alex Knight, Daniella Maison, Caz May, Delyth Pannett and Steph Richards.
For Positive Role Model LGBT, the shortlist is Fox Fisher, Mr DK Green, Rob Hurley, Susan Logie, Katie Neeves, G Sabini-Roberts, Patrick “Poggy” Murray Whitham and Adam Zane.
Positive Role Model Race, Faith or Religion finalists includes Amrit Bahia, Jakia Hussain, Mars Lord, Marsha Martin, Annisha Taylor, Mark Nam, Baljit Singh and Tumi Sotire.
Community Organisation Age finalists are Black Swan Collective, The Kindness Postbox, Cornerstone Benwell, Little Hiccups, Agent Academy CIC, Start Young UK, The Special Lioness and Trekkers UK.
Community Organisation Disability nominees include ADD-vance, Accessible Calderdale Disability Access Forum, GROVE Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education, Little Rainbows Doncaster, Pulp Friction, RAWD CIO, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and West Yorkshire ADHD.
Community Organisation Gender finalists are ADHD Babes, Blackburne House, Endo Buddies, Migrant Women Press, Stow Inspire, Train the Boys, Women in Data and Womenzone.
The LGBT Organisation category includes In Focus Education & Development, LGBT Sparkle, Marching Out Together, Proud 2 b Parents, Sahir, Transparent Presence CIC, Trans Pride Hastings and The Proud Trust.
Race, Faith or Religion Organisation finalists are Academy Achievers, Europia, Keshet UK, Nubian Jak Community Trust, Spark Inside – The Black Hero’s Journey, The Amos Bursary, Wai Yin Society and The Mango Ensemble.
In the Multi-Strand group, Enough, Mysterious Minds, Project Accountability CIC, RISE.365, Tomorrow Meets Today, The H Foundation, Wellies-On and Windrush Foundation are shortlisted.
Entrepreneur of Excellence finalists are Segun Akinwoleola, Daniella Blechner, Shelley Cowan, Millie Flemington-Clare, Hannah Hawkney, Emma Mander, Caroline Popoola and John & Funso Uwagboe.
Diverse Company finalists are Airbus, Barking Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Merseyside Police, Rethink Mental Illness, Savills, Sytner Group, TUI UK, Volkswagen Group UK Ltd and YHA England and Wales.
Celebrity of the Year nominees include Danny Beard, Yolanda Brown OBE, Nicola Coughlan, Stephen Graham, Georgia Harrison, Vick Hope, Mark Hoyle / Ladbaby, Jamie Laing, Joe Locke & Kit Connor, Chris McCausland, Jodie Ounsley and Fatima Whitbread.
Lifetime Achiever finalists are Colleen Amos OBE, Jacqui Gavin BEM, Stephen Gill, Kathryn Halford OBE, Weininger Irwin, Patrick Kwesiga, Mick Lagbir Singh and Mik Scarlett Wallace.
