Civil Service in the news

Civil Service Diversity and Equality winners announced

The Civil Service Diversity and Equality Awards have been held in Birmingham to honour individuals and teams for outstanding achievement in promoting equality and diversity in the Civil Service and the delivery of public services.

Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service attended the awards and handed out the gongs to the winners of each category.

‘The Diversity and Equality Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of the teams and individuals who have contributed so much to making both the Civil Service itself and the services we deliver to the public more inclusive, more accessible and more representative.’

Gus O’Donnell

Six awards were presented ranging from an award for innovation to a prize for the best delivery of customer service.

The projects recognised include work with elderly and disabled prisoners in Wakefield prison and a campaign launched by the Crown Prosecution Service to reduce violent crimes against women.

Sir Gus, who presented the awards, also chose an overall winner who had shown exceptional commitment in inspiring others. The winner, Amir Waseem, was commended for breaking down the stereotypical view of wheelchair users, demonstrating that people with disabilities can have the same aspirations and achieve the same goals as an able-bodied person.

The judges said Amir never let his disability stop him from succeeding in his job at the HM Revenue and Customs contact centre, where he has secured promotion and given up his free time to work on community projects.

Gus also praised Amir’s achievements. ‘He is a remarkable and motivated individual. He has triumphed over personal difficulties to change the perception people have of disability and to encourage other to achieve their own goals.

‘It is right that a modern Civil Service has to meet the needs of the society we serve. The Civil Service should be an exemplar among employers, setting new, higher standards in the way we value our people, invest in their development and create a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all.’

Bill Jeffrey, Civil Service Diversity Champion and Permanent Under-Secretary Ministry of Defence, was a member of the judging panel for the awards.

Bill said, ‘The number and quality of nominations we received for these awards is a testament to the importance that the Civil Service places on diversity.

‘As Civil Service Diversity Champion, I was delighted to be a member of the judging panel that had to make the difficult decisions to select the winners from a particularly high calibre shortlist.

‘The civil servants who have won these awards provide a show case for a Civil Service that is inclusive and confident about diversity, and that values people for who they are and what they bring.’

Winners of the 2008 Civil Service Diversity & Equality Awards

The Delivery of Customer Service Award

TCO Corporate Responsibility Team

The Child Benefit and Tax Credit Offices based in Preston have come-up with innovative ways to reach vulnerable customers and help them access services. For example the team attended the multicultural Preston Mela which attracts thousands of people.

The Engagement and Involvement Award

BME Fire Kills Campaign, Communities and Local Government

The team targeted communities which had low awareness of fire safety by producing a specialist national advertising campaign for the Somali, Pakistani and Bengali communities.

The Improvement Award

The CPS Equality and Diversity Unit, Crown Prosecution Service

The London based team has worked on a number of strategies, including a Violence Against Women Strategy and an initiative to help older people who are victims of crime.

The Innovation Award

Senior officer Fiona Brown, HM Prison Service, Wakefield

Fiona Brown has worked on projects with elderly and disabled inmates, including a new scheme to promote a healthier lifestyle.

The Inspiration Award

Amir Waseem, HM Revenue and Customs

Amir has never let his disability prevent him from being successful in his job where he has inspired others through his positive attitude and achieved promotion.

The Leadership Award

Susan Robson and Jo Wilmott, Government of the South West

The office introduced the Positive Action Trainee scheme to encourage young people from black, minority and ethnic community.

The Winner of the Cabinet Secretary’s Award:

Amir Waseem, HM Revenue and Customs