We are incredibly proud to announce that Sahir, along with five members of our dedicated team, has been nominated in the 2025 National Diversity Awards – one of the UK’s most prestigious celebrations of inclusion, equity and community impact.

The nominations reflect the heart of our mission: to champion the rights, voices and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people and those affected by HIV in Liverpool and beyond.

Sahir has been nominated in the Community Organisation (LGBTQ+) category – recognising our transformation in recent years to a bold, inclusive and community-driven charity. This nomination speaks to the collective strength of our staff, volunteers and service users who continue to shape our work every day.

In the Positive Role Model (LGBT) category, five team members have been recognised for their individual contributions to this journey:

• Ant Hopkinson, our CEO, for his courageous leadership and vision in leading the organisation and repositioning it at the heart of Liverpool City Region’s LGBTQ+ community.

• Kat Taylor, our LGBTQ+ Community Engagement Worker, for their inclusive, creative and affirming work with the wider community.

• Shereen Cowley, who leads our LGBTQ+ asylum support work, for her fierce advocacy and compassion in one of the most challenging frontline roles.

• Jared Vallejo, who now supports LGBTQ+ asylum seekers after once being a service user himself – a powerful journey of lived experience in action.

• John Hyland, our Community Partnerships Lead, for his many years of LGBTQ+ activism, advocacy and relationship building across the community.

These nominations were made by members of the public, based on the real-world impact they’ve seen from our work. That kind of recognition – grounded in lived experience and community trust – is something we hold with deep pride.

Ant Hopkinson, CEO, said:
“To have our team and organisation recognised like this is incredibly powerful. These nominations reflect not just individual achievements, but the collective strength and resilience of Sahir. We are here because of the community we serve – and we’ll keep showing up for them every day.”

As we await news of the final shortlist, we remain proud of how far we’ve come, and energised by what’s still to do.

If you believe Sahir and our staff deserve to be shortlisted, and hopefully win, any of the awards, please add your nomination by clicking the links for each person above!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to write a nomination, and continues to support our work.