Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – Page 10

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – March 2016

On 1 March 2016 By In Diversity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Mental Health

On 3 March it is University Mental Health Day with this in mind we have chosen Sport Relief 2016 as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, the first time we have chosen a charity organisation.

Sport Relief is the weekend, every two years, when the British public can get active, have fun and raise cash to help people living incredibly tough lives both in the UK and around the world. This year Sport Relief will take place up and down the country from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 March 2016 and over 1,000 different events will take place all over the country.

One of the subject’s they are highlighting this year is maternal mental health. They are calling on mums and dads affected by maternal mental health problems, to share their stories.

Sport Relief is hoping to reduce stigma associated with the issue and encourage more women and men to talk about their experiences and seek the support they need.

You can find out more about Sport Relief and how they are supporting maternal mental health here:

http://www.sportrelief.com/where-your-money-goes/mum-talk

Or follow them on twitter @sportrelief #mumtalk

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – February 2016

On 1 February 2016 By In Diversity, Gender, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Transgender

February is LGBT History Month and with this in mind we have chosen Paris Lees as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

Paris is a British journalist, presenter and transgender rights activist. Paris was brought up as a boy, and self-identified as gay in early adulthood. At the age of 18 she committed a robbery, for which she served eight months in prison. While in prison she decided to change: “I just thought, ‘I’m this silly teenage boy in a prison cell who has made a huge mistake and I want to be this happy person’.” She moved to Brighton to study English at university, where she started to identify as female: “In the space of six weeks I went from living in Nottingham as a boy with my grandma still alive, to living in Brighton as a girl”. She was referred to Charing Cross Gender Identity Clinic where she received hormone treatment to begin gender transition.

Paris founded the first British magazine aimed at the trans community, META and was the acting assistant editor of Gay Times. She also has columns in both Gay Times and Diva and was the first trans cover girl for Diva. She has also written for many mainstream newspapers and magazines, as well as for Channel 4 News.

She has presented on both television and radio, being the first trans woman presenter on both BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4. On Radio 1, she produced a documentary entitled “The Hate Debate” which covered the attitudes people have to minority groups and covered issues related to racism, homophobia, transphobia and Islamophobia. The Hate Debate was followed up with a second documentary in the same slot, “My Transgender Punk Rock Story”, interviewing transgender rock star Laura Jane Grace and introducing the teenage audience to trans concepts of identity both within and outside of the binary. She also presented the episode “Trans” of Channel 4’s The Shooting Gallery.

On 25 October 2013 Paris took part as a panelist in the BBC’s 100 Women event and in October 2013 she became the first openly transgender panelist to appear on the BBC’s Question Time programme.

Paris has worked with Trans Media Watch which challenged Channel 4 to remove transphobic material from its broadcasts, and consulted with the channel for its documentary My Transsexual Summer.

She currently works with All About Trans, a project that tries to bring together journalists and other media professionals with transgender people.

In 2013, she topped The Independent on Sunday’s Pink List, naming her as the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender figure in the UK; and was awarded the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT in the 2012.

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – January 2016

On 4 January 2016 By In Diversity, Equality, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Religion

Rimla Akhtar is the first Muslim woman – and one of only six women in total – to sit on the 121-strong FA Council. She is chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation and worked with Olympic organisers to advise them on female representation at London 2012.

Rimla is a Liverpool fan and both coaches and plays football. She captained the British Muslim Women’s football team in 2005 and played cricket for her county as a teenager. Rimla has been involved in a number of campaigns to make football more inclusive, including a successful campaign to get FIFA to accept that women should be allowed to play football wearing hijabs.

As chair of the UK’s Muslim Women’s Sport Foundation (MWSF), her mission is both simple, and daunting: to promote diversity in British sports, an arena overwhelmingly dominated by white men.

She is also the co-founder of The Listening Service, which provides mental health awareness and support for women, with a particular focus on those from ethnic minorities.

Rimla’s achievements were marked when she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for services to equality and diversity in sport.

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – December 2015

On 3 December 2015 By In Disability, Diversity, Ethnicity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month

On 4 December it is International Day of Persons with Disabilities and with this in mind we have chosen Yinka Shonibare as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

Yinka is an artist whose work explores issues of colonialism alongside those of race and class, through a range of media which include painting, sculpture, photography, installation art, and, more recently, film and performance. He examines, in particular, the construction of identity and tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe and their respective economic and political histories. A hallmark of his art is the brightly coloured fabric he uses

At the age of 18 Yinka contracted transverse myelitis, an inflammation across the spinal cord, which resulted in a long term physical disability where one side of his body is paralysed. As a result of this he uses assistants to make works under his direction.

Yinka studied Fine Art first at Byam Shaw School of Art (now Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design) and then at Goldsmiths, where he received his MFA, graduating as part of the Young British Artists generation.

Following his studies, he worked as an arts development officer for Shape Arts, an organisation which makes arts accessible to disabled people.

In 2004, he was shortlisted for the Turner Prize for his Double Dutch exhibition at the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam and for his solo show at the Stephen Friedman Gallery, London.

One of Yinka’s most seen works was ‘Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle’ which became was the first public art commission on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square.

Yinka became an Honorary Fellow of Goldsmiths’ College in 2003, received an Honorary Doctorate (Fine Artist) from the Royal College of Art in 2010, was elected Royal Academician by the Royal Academy of Arts in 2013 and in 2004 Yinka was awarded an MBE.

To find out more about Yinka and his work see his website at http://www.yinkashonibarembe.com/ .

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – November 2015

On 2 November 2015 By In Age, Diversity, Equality, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Transgender

Transgender Awareness Week, starts on 14 November leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November, when transgender advocates raise awareness of the transgender community through education and advocacy activities. With this in mind we have chosen April Ashley as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month.

April is a model and restaurant hostess and one of the first British people to undergo gender reassignment surgery.

April was born George Jamieson and joined the Merchant Navy in 1951. Following two suicide attempts which resulted in being discharged from the Merchant Navy and being sent to a mental institution, April moved to London from Liverpool. Having started cross-dressing, she moved to Paris in the late 1950s, began using the name Toni April and joined the famous French entertainer Coccinelle in the cast of the drag cabaret at the Carousel Theatre.

In May 1960 April had pioneering seven-hour-long sex reassignment surgery. Following which all her hair fell out and she endured significant pain, but the operation was successful.

After her surgery April became a sought-after model who was photographed by David Bailey and featured in the pages of Vogue magazine. But the joy at her successful transition was not to last. Later in 1961 she was betrayed by a friend who sold her story to the Sunday People for £5. She never worked as model again in Britain and she would continue to suffer prejudice and discrimination in the decades that followed.

In 2005, after the passage of the Gender Recognition Act 2004, April was finally legally recognised as a female and issued with a new birth certificate.

In December 2012 April was recognised for her tireless work on behalf of the transgender community, being awarded an MBE for her services to transgender equality. She was also awarded a Lifetime Achievement honour at the European Diversity Awards 2014

A major exhibition ‘April Ashley: portrait of a lady’ was held at the Museum of Liverpool from 27 September 2013 to 1 March 2015. There is also a film being produced about April’s life.

To find out more about April and her work see her website at http://www.april-ashley.com/

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – October 2015

On 2 October 2015 By In Diversity, Ethnicity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Race

October is Black History Month and with that in mind we have chosen Moira Stuart as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the month.

Moira Stuart’s career in radio and television spans more than two decades. She started her BBC career as a production assistant in Radio’s Talks and Documentaries department in the 1970s , before moving on to become a BBC Radio 4 announcer and a newsreader and programme presenter. Moira moved to television news in 1981 to become the first female African-Caribbean newsreader, presenting every type of BBC News bulletin before leaving in 2007.

Moira has presented many programmes on radio and television including Best of Jazz on Radio 2, BBC1’s The Holiday Programme, Have I Got News For You! in 2007, and her documentary Moira Stuart in Search of Wilberforce. BBC One’s successful documentary series Who Do You Think You Are? featured Moira in 2004, and she made a memorable appearance as herself in Extras in 2006 . At the moment Moira can be heard reading the news on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show, weekdays, 6:30-9:30.

She has won numerous awards including the TV and Radio Industries Club Best Newscaster awards and the Women of Achievement Television Personality award, she was awarded an OBE in 2001, and she received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh in 2006.

Moira has served on various boards and judging panels including Amnesty International, The Royal Television Society, BAFTA, United Nations Association, the London Fair Play Consortium, the Human Genetics Advisory Commission, the Orange Prize for Literature, the BUPA Communications Panel, the IVCA and the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, and the Grierson Trust.

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – September 2015

On 2 September 2015 By In Diversity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, Transgender

For our Inspirational Diversity Champion for September we have chosen Rebecca Root. Rebecca is a British actress and stand-up comedian. She is one of the very few openly transgender actors in mainstream television and she is to be the star of the new BBC2 sitcom Boy Meets Girl.

Rebecca graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama with a Master of Arts in Vocal Studies. As well as an actor she is also a voice coach, advertising voice therapy specifically for transgender people to help them “find a voice they feel fits their gender”. She started that career after she transitioned and acting work became harder to find.

Rebecca’s new comedy series Boy Meets Girl starts on
3 September on BBC2 and is the first BBC comedy to feature transgender issues prominently, and the first sitcom to star a transgender actor.

To find out more about Rebecca see her website.

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – August 2015

On 3 August 2015 By In Diversity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month, LGBT

On 12 August it is International Youth Day and with this in mind we have chosen Charlie Condou as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the month.

Charlie is an actor and writer best known for playing Marcus Dent in Coronation Street. He is a supporter of Manchester Pride, a patron of the Albert Kennedy Trust, and a volunteer for the Terrence Higgins Trust. He also works closely with Stonewall.

We have chosen Charlie for his work with children and families. He is that he is a Patron of the organisation Diversity Role Models. This organisation actively seeks to prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying in UK schools. They stop bullying before it happens by educating young people about difference, challenging stereotypes and addressing the misuse of language. Their workshops feature positive LGBT or straight ally role models who speak directly to young people about their experiences. To date they have worked with over 80 schools and reached over 16,000 young people across the UK.

In 2013 Charlie set up the company Out with the Family, which organises events aimed at LGBT families and straight allies to aid networking of gay parents and children of same-sex parents. The aim is to create a safe and inclusive space where children of LGBT parents can play and engage with others in similar circumstances and not be the odd one out. Parents also have the opportunity to discuss issues in a safe and supportive environment.

To find out more about Out with the Family or Diversity Role Models see their websites at:

http://outwiththefamily.co.uk/
http://www.diversityrolemodels.org/

To keep up to date with what Charlie is doing follow him on twitter at:

Tweets by Charliecondou

Inspirational Diversity Champion – July 2015

On 3 July 2015 By In Disability, Diversity, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month

On 12 July it is Disability Awareness Day and with this in mind we have chosen Nic Hamilton as our Inspirational Diversity Champion of the month.

Nic is a prime example of ‘you can do anything if you put your mind to it’. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he continuously strives to overcome the pain, strains and struggles that are a result of his disability. He is very determined and believes that his disability will not prevent him from achieving his lifelong dream of becoming a successful racing driver.

With motorsport in the family and therefore in his blood, but both time and physical strength against him, Nic never had the confidence to try motorsport. After years of hard work and dedication in overcoming his condition from wheelchair bound to walking unaided by the age of 17, his parents decided to agree to his request to be allowed to race. He was given the opportunity to race in the highly competitive Renault Clio Cup series. This naturally was a baptism of fire given that this would be his first attempt at motorsport, but he handled the challenges presented to him with the same dedication and determination that his disability presents to him on a daily basis.
Nic had a fantastic first year finishing midfield in the season. The second year proved a little tougher both but he remains determined to achieve his dream. After proving himself to the world of motorsport in just 2 short years, his ambitions are set high with the desire of one day racing in the Deutschen Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), or similar racing series as a motivation to others that disabled life is for living.

In 2013 Nic took part in the European Touring Car Cup driving a SEAT León Supercopa for Baporo Motorsport and in March this year he became the first disabled competitor to participate in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month – June 2015

On 4 June 2015 By In Diversity, Ethnicity, Gender, Inspirational Diversity Champion of the Month

On 19 June it is World Sickle Cell Day and with that in mind we have chosen Floella Benjamin, a patron of the Sickle Cell Society, as our Inspirational Diversity Champion for this month.

Floella is an actress, author, television presenter, singer, businesswoman and politician. Although she is particularly known as a presenter of children’s programmes such as Play School and Play Away, Floella has also appeared in pantomimes and radio programmes, written and appeared in several educational, religious and entertainment videos and been a narrator with a number of national orchestras.

Floella is also an author having written over 25 children’s books and written many articles for magazines including regular columns in ‘Parents’ and ‘TV Times’. In 1987 Floella set up her own television production company and since then she has produced hundreds of programmes, primarily for children.

Floella has sat on several boards and committees including, Ofcom Content Board, the Millennium Commission, the National Film & Television School and BAFTA.

In 2001 she was awarded the OBE ‘For Services to Broadcasting’ and in 2006, she was appointed as Chancellor of the University of Exeter.

In June 2010 Floella became a life peer with the title Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham in the County of Kent

To find out more about Floella and her work see her website at http://www.floellabenjamin.com/www.floellabenjamin.com or follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/FloellaBenjamin