Mosaic Board Member Harris Bokhari OBE wins Diversity Champion of the Year

Awards, Civil Society 2 Minutes

Original article published on 3 July 2018 on Mosaic

Harris Bokhari OBE

Yesterday saw the first ever National Democracy Awards held at the People’s History Museum in Manchester as part of marking the start of National Democracy Week.

Winners on the day included Mosaic Board Member Harris Bokhari OBE, who received the first Diversity Champion Award for his work as Founder of the Patchwork Foundation. The award is presented to an individual or organisation that has increased diversity in our democratic process and electoral systems, supporting others to have their say.

Since founding Patchwork, the not for profit organisation has gone on to help over 40,000 people from diverse communities engage in the democratic process through town hall events and master classes with senior political figures and voting campaigns. The Patchwork Foundation helps to engage under-represented, deprived and minority communities within British society through exposure and engagement into the political environment.

On his win Harris Bokhari said: “It was a real honour to be awarded the Diversity Champion Award as part of the inaugural National Democracy Week. It is vital that our democracy, politics and British institutions are diverse and reflect the society we live in. I am humbled to accept the award on behalf of all the Patchworkers, who inspire me each and every day, who have enriched my life and who are continuing to make our democracy inclusive for all.”te 

Harris Bokhari OBE

The awards ceremony has been held to mark the 90th anniversary of the 1928 Equal Franchise Act, which gave women equal voting rights and kicks off celebrations for National Democracy Week.

The awards recognise the exceptional work of individuals and organisations that work tirelessly to increase democratic engagement in the UK.

The Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, The Secretary of State for Transport and the elected Conservative MP for Epsom and Ewell said about the award: “Harris Bokhari does a fantastic job to encourage young people, particularly from less-engaged communities, to become involved in our democracy. This award is really well deserved.” The Rt Hon David Lidington CBE MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, added: “Colleagues from all political parties in Parliament admire the work of the Patchwork Foundation. Many congratulations to Harris on a much deserved award”.

Published by Harris Bokhari OBE

Harris is board member for the Prince's Trust Mosaic initiative. He was appointed as Mosaic’s first honorary patron and was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate 2013 for raising £1m within 12 months for various charities working in deprived communities in the UK, becoming the youngest and first Muslim to receive this honour. He now serves as a judge for the awards. Harris is the co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to enhance educational excellence and positive integration. It was established in memory of his late father, Naz Bokhari OBE, the first Asian/Muslim head teacher in the UK. The Foundation was honoured to be awarded the Big Society Award 2014 by the Prime Minister. Harris is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Harris’s interfaith work has included organising the first ever engagement event between national community, women and youth leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities meeting with the new Chief Rabbi in Finchley Kinloss Synagogue. Harris was one of the first Muslims to be invited to the Chief Rabbi’s installation ceremony and was selected to be an Ariane De Rothschild fellow, in partnership with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and King’s College. Harris also organised the first youth interfaith iftar at Lambeth Palace, which brought together the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, Mayor of London and over 100 youth leaders from each of London’s boroughs – representing all faiths and none. Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services for young people and interfaith relations; named as one of 40 people in finance who goes further for good causes by Financial News Extra Mile List; and named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list.

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