A LONG-standing trustee with Devon Communities Together has been shortlisted for a National Diversity Award
Equalities and diversity campaigner Alan Quick, from Crediton, is one of seven finalists in the Positive Role Model Award LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans) category.
The Editorial Manager of the "Crediton Courier" newspaper and also a DJ, Alan has been actively campaigning against racism and homophobia since the death of his late friend Justin Fashanu, the first £1 million black footballer, who was also the first UK professional footballer to come out as gay.
Alan has contributed to two books about Justin Fashanu. He has also exhibited an historical display of memorabilia about Justin at venues across the UK in support of LGBT events and those opposing homophobia and racism. Some items are on permanent display in the National Football Museum in Manchester.
Alan is involved in projects against inequalities in football, previously with The Justin Campaign and lately with Football v Homophobia and other organisations.
He is a member of Exeter City Football Club's One Game One Community (Kick it Out) group, is a supporter of LGBT-friendly Devon Lions and Isca Apollo Football Clubs, Stonewall, Kick It Out and is a member of Devon FA's Inclusion Advisory Group. Alan was the founder of Proud Grecians, the Exeter City FC LGBT+ and allies supporters group.
He has been a trustee with DCT for many years and many years ago, while a member of Devon Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, was the Devon YFC nominated trustee with DCT, then known as the Community Council of Devon, for several years.
When he was younger Alan worked part-time for Devon County Council supporting Devon YFC and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Devon for five years. For many years Alan was the secretary of Exeter and District Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
Alan is a member of Coldridge Village Hall committee and is a parochial church council member at St Matthew's Church, Coldridge. Alan is also a member of the Christmas in Crediton committee, which organises Crediton's annual festivities and lights. He is the administrator for the Best Dressed Crediton Christmas Shop Window competition and also the Jamie Fleming Award, which is given annually to a deserving young person from the Crediton area.
He is trustee with anti-bullying charity, Local Heroes and also a trustee with X-Plore, which runs LGBT youth clubs in Devon.
Alan was the inspiration behind the establishment of Exeter Pride, which he formed with Intercom.
It has become one of the South West's biggest and free annual LGBT Pride events, which last year had more than 13,000 people in attendance.
Alan was recognised by Intercom Lynx South West in 2006 for his work in opposing homophobia in the South West of England.
Alan is a member of Devon Equality Network, which works to promote equality in the county through a range of events and other activities. He is also a member of Exeter Together, a group dedicated to opposing racism and all forms of inequality, prejudice and hate.
In April 2017 Alan received a runner-up Outstanding Contribution to Sport award in the Exeter Express and Echo newspaper 2017 Sports Awards for his campaigns against inequalities in football, in particular with Exeter City Football Club's One Game One Community (Kick it Out) Group.
In February 2018 Alan was honoured to be named as a Melvin Jones Fellow for his "dedication to humanitarian service to the highest degree" by Lions Club International Foundation, although he is not a member.
In November 2018 Alan organised the first hugely successful Crediton Diversity Festival, following some racist incidents and hate crimes in the area and the second such Festival, also hugely successful, took place on June 15, 2019.
On May 13, 2019, Alan was presented with a Commendation Award from the then Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Rob Hannaford, for his services to charity, anti-racism, inclusion and diversity.
Alan said: "It's an incredible honour, firstly to be nominated for this award, but more recently to be shortlisted is just fantastic. I would like to thank all those who voted for me in the early stages of the Awards and hope that any publicity will help support the charities and aims and objectives I have been supporting over the years."
Alan was among 124 nominees to reach the final stages after more than 28,000 people were put forward for consideration.
He will find out if he is a winner at a ceremony in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on September 20.
Paul Sesay, founder and CEO of the National Diversity Awards, said: "A record amount of nominations and votes were received this year, the most we have ever received. I know our judging panel had an incredibly difficult task of whittling down the nominees to create an outstanding shortlist. Congratulations to all of our shortlist nominees. It is a privilege to recognise your bravery, resilience and courage and I am honoured to share this with the nation."