A BRADFORD youth organisation has been shortlisted for a national diversity award.

Bradford Council’s Colours Youth Network has been shortlisted for the community organisation award category at the National Diversity Awards 2019.

Over 28,000 people were nominated for this year’s awards, with 124 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.

Community organisations and role models from across the UK will head to Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on September 20 to witness the country’s 2019 winners being crowned the best of British diversity.

Bradford’s Colours Youth Network was founded four years ago by a group of youth workers who are all people of colour and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ+) who wanted to work to create services locally and nationally for young people who are both people of colour and LGBTQ+

Bradford Council’s youth service has been a key supporter of the network which is also partnered by Manchester Pride Trust, Unmuted Birmingham and Gendered intelligence London.

The network has put on three national residential events for young people, and have regional quarterly meet ups where young people run workshops for their peers.

Norrina Rashid, Bradford Council’s Advanced Practitioner for Bradford East Youth Service, said: “We’re thrilled that our project has been narrowed down from 28,000 nominations and is now up against just eight others. I want to thank all the young people and our partners who have worked so hard to get this project up and running. It’s a project that has made a huge difference to the young people involved by giving them confidence and a voice.”

Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and community safety, said: “I want to congratulate the Colours Youth Network on their nomination. This is a prestigious award and their nomination shows the calibre of the work that these young people, and the youth workers who support them, have been doing.”

To view a full list of nominees please visit www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/shortlist