EFDS guide highly commended at Excellence in Diversity Awards

The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is celebrating after last night's Excellence in Diversity Awards 2015, where our Inclusive Communications guide was highly commended in the Best Diversity Resource category.

BBC Breakfast presenter Steph McGovern hosted the ceremony on 14 May- the UK's Largest Diversity Awards. 

Nominated by organisations from various sectors, EFDS's Inclusive Communications Guide is an ideal starting point to learn how to reach a wider audience, especially disabled people.

The national charity faced fierce competition amongst a strong list of contenders with social enterprise Special iapps taking the Award. The Awards provides recognition for excellence regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, faith, religion and culture.

In April 2014, EFDS produced a guide to inclusive communications. Written in partnership with Sport England and Big Voice Communications, it supports providers to adapt their practices and plans to be more inclusive and accessible.

To complement the guide, EFDS ran two popular inclusive communications workshops with Big Voice Communications alongside the launch for National Governing Bodies of sport and other partners. These workshops were followed up with two focus inclusive digital communications workshops in October 2014. The high demand for these workshops means EFDS is planning more around the country over the coming years.

Sarah Marl, Marketing and Communications Manager for EFDS, said about the high commendation:

"Although we didn't win the category, to be the highly commended resource is a great achievement in a list that included private and public sector organisations. We care passionately about inclusive marketing and communications because it has great impact in reaching more people, especially disabled people. The guide is a starting point for change and we are looking forward to delivering more useful resources to support more disabled people to be active for life."

"Diversity is the motor of creativity, and a force for social progress"

Hundreds of endorsements were received paying tribute to those from under-represented backgrounds who have dedicated their lives to enhancing the equality agenda.

The one-of-a-kind ceremony kicked off with an inspirational speech from Activist and Campaigner, Peter Tatchell, to let the audience know why the awards were special to him. Tatchell said:

"It is a huge honour to be here at the Excellence in Diversity Awards, which does such outstanding work to promote, empower, profile and acknowledge organisations that are pioneering amazing initiatives on surrounding inclusion."

He added that:

"Diversity is the motor of creativity, and a force for social progress".

With that positive message, to spread equality to people of all diverse backgrounds, the awards started flowing.

Founder Paul Sesay welcomed guests to the exciting ceremony and discussed the importance of inclusion, and what inspired him to create the ceremony. As passionately as ever, Sesay said:

"Our aim is to have innovative and truly diverse award ceremonies, celebrating employers and diversity champions that excel in the field of inclusion. It is through people like you, that change can happen."

The ceremony, without a doubt, delivered on that aspiration.

After decades of supporting BME and disabled people through her organisation the Equalities National Council, Julie Charles was awarded the Lifetime Achiever Award by five times Paralympic gold medallist Jody Cundy.

A list of tremendous achievements were recognised by judges, including Julie's incredible feat of pioneering the only advocacy and mentoring enterprise specifically targeting BME disabled people.

The prestigious black-tie event has attracted a growing list of top employers including ITV, PwC and The Guardian. The night was wrapped up with a brilliant performance from The Voice UK winner 2014, Jermain Jackman who performed the pick of an impressive catalogue of songs.

The full list of winners are as follows:

Diverse Company Charity: St Giles Trust

Highly Commended: Creative Support

Diverse Company Education: The Open University

Highly Commended: The University of Sheffield

Diverse Company Housing: Gentoo

Highly Commended: Great Places Housing Group

Diverse Company Private: Asda

Highly Commended: Microlink PC

Diverse Company Public: Centro

Highly Commended: Transport for London

Diversity Champion Charity: Rev. Fred Annin - ActionPlus Foundation,

Highly Commended: Angela Murphy - Tomorrow's Women Wirral

Diversity Champion Education: Jiten Patel - The Open University

Highly Commended: Shaun Dellenty - Inclusion for All

Diversity Champion Housing: Cam Kinsella - Merlin Housing Society

Highly Commended: Bob Green - Stonewall Housing

Diversity Champion Private: Jane Hatton - Evenbreak

Highly Commended: Heather Melville - RBS

Diversity Champion Public: Lindsey Ambrose - St Andrew's Healthcare

Highly Commended: Jacqui Gavin - a:gender

Head of Diversity & Inclusion: Sarah Churchman - PwC

Highly Commended: Ricky Somal - Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Employee of the Year: Damian Kitson - Asda

Highly Commended: Jeanette Gagg - UK HM Prison Service

Diverse Marketing Campaign of the Year: Youth Media Agency #PressChange4Youth

Highly Commended: BBC Local Apprenticeship Scheme

Best Diversity Resource: Special iApps

Highly Commended: English Federation of Disability Sport

Outstanding Diversity Network: HSBC - Balance Network

Highly Commended: The Cooperative Group - Respect Network

Lifetime Achiever: Julie Charles

Highly Commended: John Campbell

To access our guide to inclusive communications, you can download it for free here.