National Diversity Awards nomination

The other day I received a message from one of my customers, they wanted to nominate me for the National Diversity Awards.

I was surprised and really pleased - it is nice to know that my stickmen are doing their job - communicating in a positive way about disability.

I have been nominated for the 'Positive Role Model' (Disability) category.

And I have had confirmation that I/Stickman Communications has been nominated in the Entrepreneur of Excellence (Disability) category at the UK's largest Diversity Awards.

People will be shortlisted based on quantity of nominations, quality of nominations, how strongly their work relates to the category they've been nominated in, and evidence provided by the nominee themselves.

According to the blurb from the charity I should now start a huge publicity campaign to shout about how awesome I am and how my stickmen are making the world a better place so I get more nominations. This strikes me as a bit excessive. So this blog is all you get: If you'd like to nominate me under any category you think fits me, please do so. If not - don't! :D

Below is the official press release info:

Hannah Ensor, a cartoonist from Oxfordshire has been nominated for the Entrepreneur of Excellence (disability) award at The National Diversity Awards.

The ceremony celebrates some of the excellent and inspiring achievements of positive role models and community organisations from across the UK. The awards aim to recognise nominees in their respective fields of diversity including age, disability, gender, race, faith, religion and sexual orientation.

 Hannah Ensor lives with HMS/EDS (being far too bendy and falling apart) and PoTS (tap-dancing heart and appearing drunk without alcohol). For her, life with an uncooperative body is normal and the freedom of having a great set of wheels is simply marvellous.

Although initially trained as an Environmental Health Officer, her conditions deteriorated significantly in her mid 20's and she was medically retired a few years later in 2010. Around this time, Hannah Ensor's stickmen based approach to disability started as a way to communicate while unable to put a sentence together. It naturally grew into a business - communicating about disability with charm, humour, and unerring accuracy. 

Her online shop www.stickmancommunications.co.uk stocks a whole range of her products, from stickers with her 'Positive Disability Symbol' design, to 'differently normal' wristbands, and Keyring Cards which help the user explain about their disability/how they are feeling/what they need effectively and with humour. From children's books full of life and laughter - which just happen to include disability as normal, to cartoon gift books suitable for all ages which communicate about various aspects of life with disabilities, with humour and unerring accuracy.
Alongside the shop, Hannah's blog, peppered with stickmen, works to raise understanding and acceptance of disability, not because she campaigns, but because she writes with openness and humour about her life in a way that is easy to relate to, and her enjoyment of life shines through.

Hannah also works closely with the Hypermobility Syndrome Association (for which she was appointed Patron for kids and teens in 2012) supporting others with her conditions and helping them make positive choices in managing it.

Some comments from her customers:

"Utterly inspiring and hilarious, she's changing perspectives on disability in a fabulous way"
"I would never have put a universal disability logo on the car because of embarrassment but now I have this positive logo and I love it - I even have it on my kayak and I'm proud to show the world I'm positively different."
"You have given me hope, thank you very much. I only saw dark days ahead of me but I think I should look at it differently. If I lose the use of my legs then there will be other experiences that I may never have tried. Thank you for being an inspiration with your attitude to life."

The National Diversity Awards 2013 in association with Microsoft will be held at The Queens Hotel, Leeds on September 20th.  Britain’s most inspirational people will come together to honour the rich tapestry of our nation, recognising individuals and groups from grass roots communities who have contributed to creating a more diverse and inclusive society.

Big Brother host Brian Dowling and CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell will be hosting this year’s event. The awards have also gained support from a number of celebrities including Stephen Fry, Beverley Knight and Ade Adepitan - and the Likes of Paralympic champion Jody Cundy, and Journalist Amal Fashanu were amongst last year’s attendees.

The largest diversity awards ceremony of its kind has generated great sponsors such as the co-operative Group, Sky, The Open University and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Theresa McHenry, of Microsoft UK, said ‘The National Diversity Awards are a wonderful way to recognise the extraordinary contribution of real people to our communities.  It’s a delight to be able to support this fantastic celebration of local heroes.’

Amongst last year’s winners was gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who scooped up The Lifetime Achiever Award; Trade Union activist Zita Holbourne who was awarded the positive role Model for Race and The Anthony Walker foundation, a charity established following the tragic murder of its namesake in a racially motivated attack.

The National Diversity Awards received an astonishing amount of nominations for last year’s event.

Paul Sesay, Chief Executive of The National Diversity Awards said, ‘if ever there was a time to celebrate and elevate the truly staggering diversity of talent the UK has to offer – it is now’

‘I know another fantastic spectacle of role models will be delivered and recognised this year’.

Nominations are now open and close July 19th 2013 - so don’t miss out on your chance to get involved!

Shortlisted nominees will be announced shortly after this date.

To nominate Hannah Ensor please visit: www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk
Or for a nomination form please email: emma@thediversitygroup.co.uk