Wolverhampton LGBTQ+ organisation and East Midlands-based Trans Role Model win National Diversity Awards

The National Diversity Awards 2025 were held in Liverpool on Friday 19^th September, with a ceremony where both West and East Midlands-based winners were celebrated among the awardees. LGBT Sparkle – a Wolverhampton-based social group that supports LGBTQ+ individuals and allies locally – won a National Diversity Award for ‘Community Organisation’ in the LGBTQ+ sub-category. While Katie Neeves, a trans ambassador who works as a presenter and event host, and now resides in the East Midlands also received an award for 'Positive Role Model' in the LGBT sub-category.

Founded by Paul Ryder and Marcus Cotterill, both of whom have lived experience of disability, LGBT Sparkle aims to create safe spaces and creative connection. The group initially launched with a face-to-face meeting prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, before having to pivot to online sessions during lockdown to maintain the support that it had begun providing.

Since then, the group has grown to over 1,500 members across the UK, and offers a hybrid approach with online and in-person meetings. LGBT Sparkle hosts weekly meet-ups, social events, and arts and crafts workshop, all of which aim to “encourage therapeutic conversation and build confidence,” explains the nomination information about the group.

“From drag nights and guided walks to dementia sessions and litter picks, each event fosters inclusion, creativity, and community care.

“Entirely volunteer-run, LGBT Sparkle fills a vital gap in LGBTQ+ support, creating a sense of belonging for those who often feel unseen.”

Celebrating the award, Paul Ryder wrote on social media: “Our organisation won the National Diversity Awards 2025, we [would] like to say a big thank you to the organisers of the National Diversity Awards and a big thank you to the community that have supported us, we really appreciate everyone’s support.”

Winner of the LGBT Positive Role Model awards, Katie Neeves is a celebrated trans advocate and tireless campaigner who works to combat misinformation about trans lives and hold the media and politicians to account. The founder of Cool2BTrans, Katie offers a platform supporting and empowering transgender people.

“Beginning her transition at 48, Katie courageously shared her journey through video and vlogging, using humour and honesty to break down barriers and educate globally,” explains the National Diversity Awards.

Writing on Instagram to share her pride at winning at National Diversity Award in 2025, Katie said: “It was such an honour to even be a finalist, as there were a staggering 85,000 nominees across all the awards and I really didn't think that I stood a chance of winning, when I saw who my fellow finalists were: Rob Hurley, G Sabinia-Roberts, Adam Zane, Patrick "Poggy" Murray Whitham, Susan Logie, Fox Fisher and Mr DK Green. They are incredible in their own right and any one of them would have been worthy of winning this award. I really couldn't believe it when Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan announced me as the winner and subsequently presented the award to me!”

She added that her acceptance speech, which she plans to share once it has been edited for social media, was a hard-hitting reminder of the “plight of trans people in the UK today.” Explaining that she was pleased that she had been able to deliver it, and that the speech was received with a standing ovation.