An appeal has been launched to help celebrate the amazing people who work hard to improve diversity and inclusion for all across Sefton at the 2024 Grand Pride Of Sefton Awards.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Sefton Council, is looking for your nominations from Bootle, Southport, Crosby, Formby, Maghull, Aintree, and across the Borough.
Please submit via the website: prideofseftonawards.co.uk or email your nominations to: standupforsouthport@gmail.com
The winners and finalists will be honoured at the Grand on Lord Street in Southport on Friday, 26th April 2024.
Cllr Marion Atkinson, Leader of Sefton Council, said:
“The Grand Pride of Sefton Awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the great work that goes on in our communities.
“We have amazing people who go out of their way to help each other and do the best they can to make Sefton a great place to be.
“As a Local Authority we are sponsoring the Diversity and Inclusion Award and we would love to see nominations for those community champions who have gone the extra mile to promote diversity and inclusion within our borough.”
Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd has won the Sefton Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Sefton Council, at the 2023 Pride Of Sefton Awards. The award was presented by Mayor of Sefton Cllr Clare Louise Carragher. Photo by Kevin Brown Photography
Last year’s Diversity and Inclusion Award winner was Debbie-Lyn Connolly Lloyd.
Since being diagnosed with a serious neurological condition in 2022, and becoming a wheelchair user, Debbie-Lyn has worked tirelessly to ensure that all restaurants and bars in and around Sefton are completely accessible to disabled customers.
She has implemented an innovative idea, the first of its kind, for disability friendly symbols to be added against venues on TripAdvisor as well as leading a campaign to enforce The Equality Act 2010, at the point of a business start up.
The campaign will see stickers displayed in windows alongside the food hygiene rating for passing customers, compiling an extensive list of venues in Sefton which are fully accessible to be issued to tourism information and media and contacting venues directly to ask for amendments to be made to become fully inclusive.
Debbie runs the Debbie Lyn Apparel shop inside Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Lord Street in Southport.
A Finalist in the category was Café Arden, a great little café on Eastbank Street in Southport town centre that gives students of Arden College with autism and other learning disabilities the opportunity to interact with the general public while getting invaluable hands-on experience both in the kitchen and front of house
This café is part of Arden College, a college for students with autism.
Debbie-Lyn Connolly-Lloyd is opening her new shop Debbie-Lyn Apparel in Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Also a finalist was Becky Woods, the Headteacher at St Nicholas Primary School in Blundellsands, who has been the driving force behind a schools ‘Diversity and Equality’ concert for more than a decade.
It features around a dozen schools from the Crosby area, and has been held at Crosby Civic Hall, The Atkinson, Southport Floral Hall and Pontins.
Supported by Sefton Council, the concerts encourage schools to include pupils in song, dance and music performances who may not ordinarily feature in such concerts on a public stage. The joy it gives to youngsters and their families is inspiring.
The Grand Pride of Sefton Awards, sponsored by The Grand Southport and organised by Mikhail Hotel and Leisure Group and Stand Up For Southport, is an unmissable fixture in the Merseyside events calendar, in association with In Demand Radio.
The ceremony will be presented by In Demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo and former Sky Sports News presenter Fraser Dainton.
All those on the shortlist will be invited to a special celebratory meal in the beautiful surroundings of The Princess Grace Suite at The Grand in Southport while the awards are presented, with a stunning night of entertainment planned.
Nominations are still being invited across all 13 categories ahead of the closing date on 22nd March 2024.
For more details please visit: www.prideofseftonawards.co.uk
Please Like the Pride Of Sefton Awards page on Facebook the Pride Of Sefton Awards on Instagram and Pride Of Sefton 23 on Twitter.
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