Afrikindness becomes the first recipient of the Leeds Community Foundation Sylvie Nunn Memorial Award

Community organisation Afrikindness becomes the first to receive the Leeds Community Foundation Sylvie Nunn Memorial Award for their Neurodiversity Community Campaign Project.

The award was established to honour the memory of Sylvie Nunn, long-term friend of Leeds Community Foundation, by recognising Community Organisations’ work with underrepresented communities. Each year we will acknowledge one recipient of The Leeds Fund Microgrants with the Leeds Community Foundation Sylvie Nunn Memorial Award. The award will recognise the most innovative idea to break new ground for underrepresented communities or to support those often overlooked to be heard.

Afrikindness’ project will address the challenges faced by ethnic minority families with neurodiverse children in response to their research study focused on delayed autism diagnoses among Black African parents. They aim to design and implement culturally sensitive education and outreach initiatives that resonate with communities, starting in Leeds and to be replicated across England.

Using their Microgrant from The Leeds Fund, they will train a volunteer as a certified Neurodiversity and Inclusion trainer to deliver a programme of workshops offering a nuanced curriculum on autism awareness with cultural sensitivity. Sessions will include expert speakers, syndicate sessions, sign-posting parents, interactive play, referrals and one-to-one parental support.