On Thursday 6th December, Milton Keynes Equality Council and MKFM presented some very special awards to local people and organisations who have been outstanding in promoting equality in Milton Keynes.

The glitzy awards ceremony was held at the Berrill Theatre at The Open University and was hosted by MKFM's Chris Gregg with awards for organisations and individuals who are working towards combating discrimination and inequality and have developed ways and systems to promote justice and 'equality of opportunity for all'.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a Diamond Jubilee Equality Award.

The evening began with a keynote speech from Tony O'Shea-Poon, the Equality, Diversity and Information Right Team at The Open University.  There were also performances by Milton Keynes College students Danielle Nicholle who sang Diamonds by Rihanna, a dance performance by Gintare Geltyte and performance of Our Day Will Come by Serena Robb.

"Equality is like the Golden Thread that should feed through all policies, services and practices within an organisation. Without Equality, people can become victims of discrimination and suffer inequality. We want to give recognition to those who have embraced the Equality agenda and made a noticeable difference" - Navrita Atwal, Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Equality Council

The Winners

Business Sector

Sponsored by Buckinghamshire and MK Fire Authority

Diamond Award Winner: Pink Punters (one of the UK's largest LGBT venues)

Certificate of Excellence: Susan Popoola (local author of Touching The Hearts Of Milton Keynes)

Certificate of Merit: Festus Akinbusoye (Ikan Management Services security company)

Statutory Sector

Sponsored by Goldcare Management Services

Joint Diamond Award Winners:South Central Ambulance Service & Bucks Fire Authority

Puiblic Sector

Sponsored by Verandah Talk

Diamond Award Winner: Ethnic Minority Achievement Support Service (EMASS)

Certificate of Excellence: Woughton Community Council

Certificate of Excellence: Link MK

Education

Sponsored by MK Dons Sports Education Trust

Diamond Award Winner:Milton Keynes College

Certificate of Excellence: Drayton Park Primary School

Certificate of Excellence: Radcliffe Secondary School

Certificate of Excellence: Sieve MK

Community Sector

Sponsored by Milton Keynes Council And Diversity Marketplace

Joint Diamond Award Winners:Milton Keynes Peace And Justice Network & One World Club

Certificate of Merit: Terry and Julie Baines (Fishermead Residents Association)

Certificate of Excellence: MK Pride

Individual Award

Sponsored by South Central Ambulance Service

Diamond Award Winner: STaSS

Certificate of Excellence: Healthy Lifestyles

Certificate of Excellence: Melting Pot

Voluntary Sector

Sponsored by Jaipur Restaurant

Diamond Award Winner: Red Cross

Certificate of Excellence: MK Mind

Certificate of Excellence: Age UK

Community And Employers' Choice

Chris Hayter - nominated for her humanitarian work to improve health and living conditions of people locally and internationally (chosen by Hudson Conway & Co)

PC Kevin Hudson-Cook - nominated for creating a robust bond between TVP and the community(chosen by Somalian Community)

Sgt Samantha Watson - nominated for working towards improving equality of access to services, especially for the more isolated communities in MK (chosen by Safer MK)

Hannah O'Neill - nominated for her work to combat hate crime in MK (chosen by Thames Valley Police)

MK Islamic Arts Heritage and Culture - nominated for bringing all communities together through arts and breaking down barriers (chosen by MK College)

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sponsored by Odette Waldron

Richard Solly - Richard has worked tirelessly for 20 years to support equality in Milton Keynes as head of Community Safety he set up the Anti-Racial Harrassment Group and has been pivotal in the life of the project and its change to Anti-Hate Crime Group.

Overall Diamond Award Winner

Sponsored by Vacant Space Management

Milton Keynes College

The judges were looking for outstanding examples of how local people or organisations have achieved equality in the nine protected characteristics stated in the Equality Act 2010 : 

• Race and Ethnicity 
• Age 
• Gender
• Disability 
• Religion / Faith / Belief 
• Sexual Orientation 
• Gender Reassignment 
• Marriage / Civil Partnership 
• Pregnancy and Maternity

For more information about Milton Keynes Equality Council, please call 01908 606224/606828 or visit mkequalitycouncil.org.uk