Organisers of the 2nd Annual Bristol Diversity Awards have announced three special awards that will be given at the main event on Royal Wedding day Saturday 19th May.
Alongside over 75 nominees who will be competing for 25 Diversity awards across various categories, St Pauls Carnival founder Roy Hackett, Bristol Musician, broadcaster & youth mentor Kaya Kilaze Bowen and Social worker & campaigner Liz Wilson who died last year will all receive recognition.
The 2018 ceremony which will be held at the Mecure Holland House Hotel & Spa on Redcliffe Hill will give out 26 awards covering all aspects of diversity and will even include politicians, media and business. Members of the public have nominated online and now the shortlist has been released. A host of organisations have also supported specific awards including Creative Youth Network, Drummer TV and United Communities. Media sponsors include BCfm Radio and ITV whilst the headline sponsors for 2018 are Royal Airforce Recruitment & Selection and Bristol based E-Com Media.
E-Com Media’s Sherrie Eugene-Hart who are joint sponsors of the event said “ We were thrilled to be part of this event last year where diversity is encouraged and celebrated and the increase in the amount of awards on offer is a major step forward for the city that we love and these three special recognition awards will ensure those that may have gone unnoticed will finally receive some well deserved recognition ”.
Even though all the nominated category winners will be revealed on the day, the event organisers have released the identities of the three special recognition awards as follows.
The E-Com Media Outstanding Contribution Award – Kaya “Kilaze” Bowen – Bristol Homegrown Network – 10 years of service to the youth of inner city Bristol, the Bristol music scene & creative media.
The Paul Stephenson Award: Contribution to Race Equality – Roy Hackett
Co-founder of St Pauls Festival (1968)
Bristol Diversity Lifetime Recognition Award: Liz Wilson
Liz sadly passed away in 2017 but this award is for outstanding contribution to social justice in the care system.
One of the organisers Victoria Tiley said “The Bristol Diversity Awards aim to also work alongside the existing award ceremonies for LGBT+, BAME and Women so that we can all celebrate Diversity & Inclusion in a major way.
