Inspirational Young Person of the Year

Winner: Darious McLeod – Huddersfield
Darius started his career as a qualified mechanic and In 2018 he decided to pursue his ambition of starting a clothing brand ‘Graft Hard’. From scratch he has established a reputable brand by investing in himself. Darius has just recently opened a barber shop in his local community. Now he plans to support other young people with training and mentorship by creating opportunities for them within his business.

Volunteer of the Year

Winner: Delroy Dacres – Bradford
Delroy Dacres is a stalwart in the community and has volunteered in the community for decades. He has been involved with ‘Sports Campaign Against Racism’, the Frontline Initiative and has been the manager of Campion Football club for over 25 years. Assisting many young people to achieve refereeing and coaching qualifications, he also organised many events including the local nations World Cup which was a unification of many cultures and a sports tournament which highlighted prostate cancer. As a person of positive actions Delroy has never sought rewards and brings success and a sense of achievement to those he meets and inspires.

Charity of the Year

Winner: Jamaica Society – Leeds
Jamaica Society Leeds is one of the UK’s most revered Jamaican community organisations. We fly the flag for Jamaica, land we love, and Leeds, the city we love, operating from our very own Jamaica House, in the heart of the African Caribbean community we have been committed to since 1977. We cherish our community’s elders and children through annual events and tackle isolation and loneliness through our Care Group. We champion Jamaican heritage, culture and Back history through inspirational work, most recently our record-breaking Eulogy Project and Back to Life online gallery.

Voluntary Sector Group of the Year

Winner: Speak to the Streets – Leeds
Speak to the Streets is a youth work organisation specialising in working with 11 to 19 year olds to try and provide alternatives to gang activity as a way of life. Promoting positivity, self belief using street culture. Their ethos is that together, we can make the streets more creative.

Social Enterprise of the Year

Winner: Conscious Youth – Huddersfield
Conscious Youth CIC is a youth-led social enterprise based in Kirklees. Having worked with over 900 young people across Kirklees, their work challenges inequalities by creating opportunities for young people to influence change and make a positive difference in their communities. One of their major achievements this year is their ‘Bring Back our Park’ campaign, raising enough money to install a new playground in a disadvantaged area of Huddersfield.

Community Activist Award

Winner: David Whyles & Paul Edmeade – Leeds
The duo have been active since the late 90’s, starting in the hip-hop scene, funding their own projects and record label. They continue to work with young people by offering mentoring and providing a creative outlet.

Female Entrepreneur of the Year

Winner: S J Adams – Huddersfield
My business Urbanized Neckwear, started in 2016 was created as am outlet and way to express myself creatively.  I began to create quirky neck structures from eye-catching fabrics, zips and fasteners. Before I knew it, I had transformed my hobby into a fashion brand, setting up online shops in the UK, France and the US and selling my exclusive high-end contemporary handcrafted Neckwear designs to customers all around the world. My ambition for the future is to continue to build upon my business and gain momentum as a motivational speaker as well as adding a Personal Styling Service to my business portfolio. I truly love what I do so to be recognised for it is both a blessing and honour!

Male Entrepreneur of the Year

Winner: Jhovan Hanson – Huddersfield

My name is Jay Hanson born and raised in Huddersfield. I am young, black and proud. Some of my top achievements include been the only person in my family to graduate from University and being a British Kickboxing Champion.

My businesses and organisations include Team Hanson, Team Bounce and Jays Gardening Services. Team Hanson is my main brand which I started in 2014 and has been running successfully since then. We specialise in martial arts and fitness helping young people tackle various social issues.

Emerging Community Business

Winner: The Hardfood Box – Bradford
The Hard Food Box provides customers with fresh, affordable cultural produce delivered, in pre packed ‘soul boxes’ straight to customers doors. The company has filled a gap in the market and have developed their business based on the needs of people from the African Caribbean community. They believe every plate should be vibrant with colour, rich with aroma and bursting with flavour.

Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement

Winner: Mrs Flowers – Huddersfield
Alda Flowers is a “Great Jamaican” awarded through the Jamaican High Commission which aired on TVJ in the 2000s. She was also the sole recipient of the 2013 Governor-General UK Diaspora Award in held Jamaica.  Qualified as a school teacher in Jamaica, she left just over 50 years ago for her nurse training scholarship. She has trained hundreds of doctors in Huddersfield. Prior to retiring she was a theatre sister. Alda served on the board for the National Children’s Centre in the U.K whilst bringing up three children and welcoming three grandchildren alongside Johnny Flowers founder of  Ashbrow Garage. She has been instrumental in organising the annual Jamaica Independence Service and Festival in Huddersfield.  who recently sent heart monitors to local Jamaican hospitals and she continues to raise funds for annual Jamaica Festivities in the UK.

Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement

Winner: Mr Ivan Golding – Leeds
Ivan is an elder who came to England decades ago. He spent his career working on the railways for years and even wrote a book. He is an active member of his church and actively encourages young people in the community to get involved in civic duties and activities.

The Peoples Choice Award

Winner: Calma Ritchie – Bradford
Calma is an institution in Bradford and received lots of votes. One of the people that voted said “Calma makes the black community very proud of her achievements. I hav known her since the 80’s, she has always had a city centre salon in Bradford also Harrogate. She lectures at leeds college for many years and deserves to win this award  putting black hairdressing in the community. Calma also does European hair, Asian all nationality at her salon being inclusive and multicultural”.

Calma has been responsible for inspring so many hairdressers that have followed her (and has trained most of them) and is a very worthy winner of this award.