
The European Diversity Awards, which took place on the 30th September 2015, recognise and celebrate innovation, excellence, creativity and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion by organisations and individuals.
We are thrilled that Eilis Davis (Remix Assistant Director) and Dave Young (performer also known as The Shouting Mute) travelled to London to represent Diverse City and took home the award in the Community Project Of The Year category for the project Diverse Futures which featured Activate as a partner organisation.
We are thrilled that Diverse City and all involved in Diverse Futures have been given this recognition. Huge and well-deserved congratulations.
Diverse Futures is a new kind of website that highlights opportunities for young people in the UK who are disabled. It is an inclusive place where young people can explore careers and pathways in the performing arts.For many years we have been working with Claire Hodgson from Diverse City who was Artistic Director of The Remix, an inclusive youth performance company based in Dorset, run by Activate Performing Arts. It was very apparent that many of the young people from The Remix who are disabled, are incredibly talented, passionate and creative emerging artists but they couldn’t figure out how to continue in the performing arts after finishing school and potentially having to leave The Remix at 19yrs. Due to a lack of available information, many find themselves signposted to social science courses, or general courses in life-skills. They are rarely told about professional integrated performing arts provision. The team at Diverse City knew this needed to change.Together with Diverse City as lead partner and The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation we set out to create Diverse Futures. The mission was to build an online map as a tool for young people, (as well as their parents/carers, friends and career advisors) and gather new intelligence on what provision there is for young people who are disabled who want to progress in the professional performing arts industry.
The European Diversity Awards Established in 2010, the European Diversity Awards celebrate people and organisations with a track record in promoting equality and diversity. Over 600 guests attended the ceremony which was hosted by TV presenter Nicki Chapman.
There were awards for prominent writers and broadcasters too, author Owen Jones, who is also a Guardian columnist, saw off stiff competition from individuals like Emma Barnett from the Telegraph, The Times’ Melanie Reid and the BBC’s Aleem Maqbool to win Journalist of the Year.
The Campaigner of the Year award, which recognises an individual’s commitment to a particular cause, was awarded to Jack Monroe. The writer, best known for her book ‘A Girl Called Jack: 100 Delicious Budget Recipes, has campaigned on poverty issues for a number of years.
And there was special recognition for Claire Prosser. Founder and former director of the BBC’s Journalism Trainee Scheme, who sadly died last year, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award. A former print journalist, Claire championed the pursuit of fresh, diverse entry-level talent into BBC News, helping to make it a more representative workplace more in touch with its audience.