Diversity Champions Shortlisted for National Award

We are thrilled to announce that our student Diversity Champions have been shortlisted for a prestigious national award!

This inspiring group of students, aged 11 to 18, has been selected from 90,000 nominations for the Community Organisation Award for Race, Religion & Faith at the National Diversity Awards 2024, sponsored by HSBC UK. This remarkable achievement is a testament to their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts to ensure that every member of the WGS community is celebrated and given a voice.

Since its inception in 2022, the Diversity Champions group has been meeting weekly to discuss and plan events that acknowledge the nine protected characteristics covered in their Wellbeing lessons. One of their first major projects was collaborating with peers to create WGS’ values statement: “WGS is an inclusive and inspiring community built on individuality, respect, and kindness.”

The Diversity Champions have since spearheaded numerous successful events, including a Black History Month celebration featuring the Right Honourable Stuart Lawrence, Patron of the Black Curriculum and brother of Stephen Lawrence, who was tragically murdered in a racist attack in 1993. Their largest event to date, “We Are WGS Day”, was held earlier this year and was a magnificent celebration of the diverse identities and cultures within the WGS community.

The Diversity Champions have also actively engaged with the local community. In May, they joined 30,000 people in celebrating the Sikh Festival of Vaisakhi in West Park, with two students having the special honour of delivering a message on behalf of WGS. More recently, they have played a key role in launching the “Big Conversation” a series of talks featuring special guests who will engage our students in open and meaningful discussions about the challenges people face and how we can become more accepting, understanding, and supportive.

The progress these students have made in such a short time is truly remarkable. Their efforts were highlighted in our recent ISI inspection report, which praised WGS for its “tremendous sense of community” and “strong culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion”. This inaugural group of Diversity Champions has laid a lasting foundation for future students to build upon, creating a legacy of inclusivity and empowerment at WGS.

A huge thank you to everyone who supported our students with their votes. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Liverpool at the beginning of October. We wish our Diversity Champions the very best of luck!