A WOODLEY vicar is delighted to have won a National Diversity Award (NDA).
Revd Mark Nam was presented with the honour by footballer Chris Kamara at a National Diversity Awards ceremony held in Liverpool Cathedral.
The NDA celebrates the achievements of grass-root communities that are tackling the issues in today’s society, recognising dedication and hard work.
Now in its 14th year the ceremony was hosted by broadcaster, author and journalist Clare Balding (CBE).
Mr Nam won the Positive Role Model Award: Race, Religion and Faith, from among more than 85,000 nominees and 125 finalists from across the country.
“When I was told I’d been nominated, I honestly wasn’t sure if I ought to accept,” he said.
“But then I discovered the ceremony was being held at Liverpool Cathedral.
“It backs onto Europe’s oldest Chinatown, in the city where my paternal grandparents first arrived in the UK as migrants.
Mr Nam is vicar at St John the Evangelist Church, and received the award for his work founding the Teahouse network, raising the profile and participation of British Chinese Christians and clergy.
In accepting his award, he said that he wanted to bring not only his narrative, but to highlight his grandparents’ stories and those of other migrants too.
“The award belongs to everybody who has gone before, laying paths and making sacrifices so that we can stand and be counted,” he said.
“It’s for every person who has felt unseen, for every migrant family whose story is still being written, and for every community working for inclusion and justice.”
Mr Nam has played a big part in welcoming members of the Hong Kong community and is Associate Dean of the Diocese of Oxford UKME Chapter.
His award was sponsored by Amazon, and the NDA headline sponsor was HSBC.
For information, visit: nationaldiversityawards.co.uk and stjohnswoodley.com
