[F]ollowing a hugely success Diverse Cumbria Awards in 2016, organisers The Ink Events Company are looking for your nominations for this year’s event before time runs out this Sunday. (23rd April.)
The Diverse Cumbria Awards have been set up to celebrate and award those making a difference in Equality and Diversity within the county and have been sponsored by the likes of Cumbria’s NHS Partnership Trusts, The Police and Crime Commissioner and ITV News.
Winners from last year’s event will form this year’s judging panel to pick three shortlists from each category and a then a winner from each of those. Last year’s Positive Role Model winner Julie Dodd said “The Diverse Cumbria Awards celebrate the achievements of groups and individuals who tackle issues such as hate crime and discrimination throughout Cumbria. I was honoured to be the winner of the 2016 Positive Role Model award and now have the difficult task of forming part on this year’s judging panel.”
Categories for this year include:
- Community Volunteer of the Year
- Community Group/ Organisation Champion of the Year
- Public Sector Champion of the Year
- Business Champion of the Year
- Positive Role Model of the Year
Prism Arts won the Community Group/ Organisation Award last year for their continuous work with individuals who have a learning or physical disability or who are older members of Cumbria who may experience isolation.
Organiser Ben is looking for people to submit their nominations via the Diverse Cumbria website. Nominations can come from anyone, including those who work within the organisation or business they are nominating. Ben said: “Nominations close in just a few days, so we are really making a push for people to submit their nomination now before the deadline as many sadly missed their chance last year. I keep getting asked ‘Who can nominate?’ Well it’s very simple, anyone can. If you can think of anyone that fits within the categories who you work with, please put a nomination in for them.”
Sponsorship this year is coming from various organisations across the county, their main sponsor being Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who is also sponsoring one of their awards too.
Kate North from CPFT said: “Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust are immensely proud to be sponsoring the Diverse Cumbria Awards 2017. We both strongly believe that inclusion is central to our living by the Trust values; demonstrating inclusion and diversity through our commitment to the public for whom we provide services, and to the people who work for us, both currently and in the future.”
Other sponsors include The Police and Crime Commissioner of Cumbria, Peter McCall, and ITV Border News who will be covering the event on the night.
Tickets are selling fast and are £15 each, which includes a welcome drink and a two-course hot buffet. For more information on the Awards, how to nominate and to buy your ticket, visit the Diverse Cumbria website: www.diversecumbria.co.uk