Disability Direct, a leading charity for the rights and well-being of disabled individuals in the Midlands, is delighted it’s CEO, Dr Amo Raju OBE DL has won the Lifetime Achiever Award at The National Diversity Awards 2023 in association with ITV News.
Broadcasting legend Clare Balding CBE hosted the 12th annual National Diversity Awards on Friday 15th September, saying – ‘Amo has spent nearly three decades campaigning for a society where all people can achieve their potential.’
Community organisations and role models from across the UK headed to the breathtaking Liverpool Cathedral on 15th September to witness the country’s 2023 winners being crowned the best of British diversity. A record-breaking 90,000 people were nominated this year with 120 nominees being recognised for their various achievements nationwide.
After a nail-biting build-up to the final announcement by Paul Sesay – CEO & Founder of The National Diversity Awards, Amo received a standing ovation from a crowd of nearly 2,000 people from across the United Kingdom.
Amo said – ‘My legs turned to jelly! I could see what looked like thousands of faces looking in my direction and I knew I had to stand up and walk. In fact, I had to ask my son to help me to the stage. It was an incredible moment for me but when I looked back at my family and some of the trustees of DD who came with me, I saw tears in their eyes and that’s when the magnitude of what had just happened, truly sank in. I didn’t expect to win and so had no speech prepared in advance. All I could think of was what am I going to say? Thank you to all those people who voted for me, many of whom I have never met and will probably never meet. Thank you so much.’
For nearly three decades, Amo has been the CEO of Derby based Disability Direct, one of the most successful charities in the region with services reaching more than 150,000 disabled people. As a disabled person himself, Amo joined the charity as a volunteer with little to no skills, qualifications and experience in a working environment. With sheer grit, determination and a passion to ensure he made not only a career for himself but more importantly, easily accessible services for his peers.
Over the last year Amo has also been awarded a doctorate by The University of Derby and an OBE in His Majesty King Charles III’s first birthday honours and just recently asked to become a Deputy to The Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire.
David Moss, Chair of Disability Direct said – ‘Amo’s accolades are definitely so richly deserved but are also elevating the charity to recognition beyond our borders. The board of trustees are so proud to have him as our CEO and we know he will lead us to even greater success in the future.’
