Diversity heroes take centre stage at revival
CHAMPIONS of diversity across the borough have been celebrated at this year’s Rochdale Diversity awards.
Run by Kashmir Youth Project, the awards promote the excellent work being done by individuals, organisations and employers in supporting and promoting equality, diversity and cohesion
Returning after a break due to the pandemic, the awards evening also aimed to motivate service providers by ensuring equality and diversity issues are central to local services and organisations.
Guest speakers included Cllr Ali Ahmed, Mayor of Rochdale; Daalat Ali, deputy leader of Rochdale Council; Dr Zubair Hanslot, Provost at Bolton University; Maqsood Ahmad, CEO British Muslim Heritage Centre; Sajjad Karim, CEO Haider Global BVBA Brussels, corporate lawyer and former MEP for the North West 20042019.
They all spoke about the importance of embracing diversity within their own organisations and across all walks of life.
The calibre and quality of nominations received for the awards was outstanding and the judging panel had a very difficult time in selecting one winner from each category.
Zulf Ahmed, CEO of KYP, said: “The last Diversity Awards ceremony was held in 2017 and due to various reasons including austerity and the pandemic it has not been possible for us to come together to recognise, reward and share good practice from across the borough.
“I would like to thank Action Together for providing the support and funding to enable us to revive the Rochdale Diversity Awards.
“We are a borough of different communities, these diverse communities don’t make us weak, they are the source of our strength. The Rochdale Diversity Awards allow us to challenge the negative portrayal of Rochdale and celebrate all that is good in the borough; after all we have many things to be proud of.”
The winners were:
●●Cohesion Award – Cartwheel Arts.
●●Workforce Diversity Award – Rochdale Borough Council (Raising Participation Team) .
●●Diversity in Apprenticeships – Rochdale Training.
●●Diversity in Education Award – Tree of Life.
●●Diversity in Health; Social Care – Petrus Communities.
●●Breaking Barriers Award – Rochdale and District Mind – Dementia and Care Service
●●Diversity in public sector partnership working award – Rochdale Sixth Form College – ●●Voluntary and Faith
Sector Award – Awakening Minds. ●●Outstanding Achievement in Diversity Award –