Valerie attends British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards 2017

I attended the BEDSAs on Saturday 18 March 2017 hosted by Sir Lenny Henry to recognise and celebrate sporting excellence within Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

BESDAs was created by Sporting Equals, a national charity, to honour the best of British BAME athletes as well as shine a light on projects and people that support participation in sport at every level. According to Sporting Equals, demand in sport is higher in BAME groups than White British population by 12%. However 77% of British Asians and 65% of African Caribbean people felt that mainstream adverts had no or little relevance to them.

The complete list of winners at the BEDSAs were as follows:

Youth Sport Trust Young Sports Person of the Year – Alice Tai (Paralympic Gold and Bronze medallist in swimming)

British Army Unsung Hero – Inderpal Singh Cheema (Silver medallist in competitive wrestling)

Sport England Community Sports Project of the Year – Spring SLR (Sports activity group based in Nottingham)

England Athletics Coach of the Year – Chris Hughton (Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion)

Spirit of 2012 Connecting Communities – Al Madina Centre (Muslim run centre used by 350 people)

Mind Wellbeing Award – Sonia Smith (Project Coordinator of the Coping Through Football project)

Tennis Foundation Special Achievement – Shapla Sports (Sport project based in Bradford)

FA Recognition Award – Rashid Abba (Employability Education Manager at West Ham United FC)

UK Sport Inspirational Performance – Ruqsana Begum (World Kickboxing Association Muay Thai Champion)

Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year – Kadeena Cox (Paralympic Gold medallist in cycling and athletics)

Lycamobile Sportsman of the Year – Mo Farah (Olympic Gold medallist in both the 5000m and 10,000m)

Lifetime Achievement Award – Jason Robinson OBE (Former Great Britain, England and Wigan winger) –