A campaign that increases awareness of cancer symptoms in diverse communities was one of the big winners at the Tees Valley Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Awards.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust won the Public Sector Award for it's support of the Cancer Awareness Connect project.
Dr Jonathan Ferguson, Consultant Surgeon and Cancer Lead at the trust, received the award at Kirkleatham Walled Garden.
Dr Ferguson and colleagues have been involved in promoting honest conversations and urging people to have symptoms checked as early as possible.
He said: "It was a delight to receive this award on behalf of the trust. It is important that all communities know that cancer does not discriminate and neither do we.
“I look forward to supporting the cancer awareness connect project as it helps people talk openly about cancer".
Penny Thomas, Commercial and Partnership Director at the Halo Project, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in recognition of her decades of dedication to areas including gender equality, violence prevention and housing.
The awards also recognised the economic contribution of ethnically led and inclusive businesses.
Winners included Babul’s Darlington, named SME Business of the Year, and Aman Chahal of Tapered Plus, who took home the title of Business Person of the Year.
The 2025 awards honoured those who have built bridges in challenging times. They brought together community leaders, businesses, and public sector organisations to celebrate those championing unity and inclusion across the region Yasmin Khan, Director of the Halo Project, said: “At a time when equality,diversity and inclusion itself is being questioned, the awards are a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
“The people and organisations we have celebrated are not just promoting inclusion in theory, they are creating meaningful change that makes our region safer, fairer, and stronger.”
Idrees Rashid, Director of BME Network CIC, said: “In a year when we have witnessed attempts to sow division, these awards are more than a celebration, they are a statement of unity. They show that across Teesside, Darlington,
and Hartlepool, there are people committed to the belief that our diversity is our strength, not our weakness.
“We thank our sponsors Middlesbrough College, Moonrise 24 Hour Recruitment, and Teesside University, and congratulate every winner and nominee for their courage and conviction in standing up for the values that truly define us.”
Now in their fifteenth year, the Tees Valley EDI awards have been shining aspotlight on inclusion across the region’s multicultural communities since their launch in 2011.]
Full list of 2025 Award Winners:
Community Ambassador - Oz Sadiq
Community Champion - Rachel Gray
Community Organisation - Deaf Empowering Network
Apprenticeship Award - Rachelle Mazengeza
Youth Impact Award - Michael Obiang Oyono
Public Sector Award - South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Health Award - Riverside Medical Practice
Education Award - Teesside University
Micro Business - Falak’s Kitchen & Cha Cha Chai (Joint Winners)
SME Business - Babul’s Darlington
Business Person of the Year - Aman Chahal, Tapered Plus
Social Impact of the Year - Daisy Chain
Woman of the Year - Ngozi Lyn Cole
Lifetime Achievement Award - Penny Thomas
