Blair Peach Award – Nominate your candidate now
The National Union of Teachers established the Blair Peach Award (BPA) in March 2010. The award is named after the past president of East London NUT who died during an anti-racist demonstration in Southall, London on 23 April 1979. On the day of his death, Blair Peach was showing solidarity and marching against the presence of the far right National Front. Modern day equivalents to the National Front continue to promote racist and fascist views. It is vital to the National Union of Teachers that they do not gain a foothold in British politics. That is why we use our political fund to campaign vigorously against racist and fascist parties and support the work of organisations such as HOPE not hate, Unite Against Fascism, Show Racism the Red Card and Kick it Out.
The BPA is awarded at Annual Conference to give recognition to members who have made exemplary contributions to their school or association or division’s work on equality and diversity.
Remember to nominate your candidate by 19 December 2015. Regional/Wales offices should submit nominations via email to equality@nut.org.uk
Criteria for nomination and how to nominate someone for the award
To download a nomination form, please click HERE.
Winner of the 2015 BPA Award - Juno Roche
Juno Roche, from Buckinghamshire Division, was awarded the BPA at Annual Conference 2015 for her outstanding work on transgender teachers’ visibility and rights. Along with Natacha Kennedy she has set up the Trans Teachers’ Network, spoken at the TUC LGBT Conference and led a workshop on trans issues.
Juno Roche is a committed member and equalities officer, treasurer and President of Buckinghamshire NUT. She made her transition with the help of the local division.
At NUT Conference 2014, Juno seconded a motion on ‘Transgender Teachers’ Visibility and Rights’ and recounted her trials as she transitioned at work. Her speech raised the profile of the NUT and trans teachers on a national scale.
She has rewritten the trans survey with the NUT’s Education and Equalities Department and has also worked with the equalities team to write the leaflet ‘Why Trans Teachers Matter’, which was produced for ‘Transgender Day of Remembrance 2014’. Juno is also a ‘School’s Out’ Committee member and she was placed on the the Independent on Sunday’s 2014 Rainbow List, gaining national recognition as both a teacher and NUT member.
Juno has supported human resources (HR) and senior leadership teams (SLTs) in East London in producing ground-breaking trans policies to suport gender transition. She has also put together a pack with the SLTs in those schools enabling them to support teachers who are less confident in discussing trans issues with PowerPoint presentations and letters for parents, etc.
Some examples of Juno’s work can be found below
2015 Nominees
June Roche – Buckinghamshire (winner)
Michael Dance – Redbridge
Natalie Nicole – Bedfordshire
Susie Barrows – Hackney
Syma Effendi, Darren Crossdale and Sue Preston – Liverpool
Nick O’Brien – Norfolk Division
Previous Holders and Nominees
2014 Nominees
Sam Kirk – Bradford Association (winner)
Jan Hoggan – Tawe Afan Nedd
2013 Nominees
Richard Rieser – Hackney (winner)
Sam Kirk – Bradford
Jan Hoggan, Mark New, Julie Stapleton, Natasha Harry – Neath Port Talbot
John Illingworth – Nottingham City
Colin Foley – St Helens