West Bromwich charity's chief executive shortlisted for business award

Monica Shafaq, from the Kaleidoscope Plus Group, was shortlisted in the Corporate Achievement of the Year category at the British Muslim Awards.

A total of 300 men, women and businesses have been shortlisted in the awards, which recognise the wide achievements of British people of Islamic faith, in fields including business, charity, law, and education.

The awards highlight the contribution to British society these people have made in the past 12 months, and the winners in each category of the awards will be revealed at a ceremony on February 24 at the British Muslim Heritage Centre in Manchester.

Mrs Shafaq, who heads up the West Bromwich charity, said: “I am delighted to have been shortlisted. It’s a real honour for both myself and The Kaleidoscope Plus Group as it highlights the important work that both me and my team have been doing to help people struggling with their mental health.

“It will be fantastic to be at the award ceremony in Manchester and surrounded by incredible people from skilled entrepreneurs to inspiring role models who have all worked hard in their chosen fields and been nominated by the public.

“I’d like to say a big thank you to whoever nominated me as the nomination came as a huge surprise. I would like to wish the best of luck to all my fellow finalists and am looking forward to an exciting night.”

Mrs Shafaq has been the CEO of the Kaleidoscope Plus Group since 2010. It is under her leadership that the charity re-branded, from Sandwell Mind, and has also been awarded a place on the ‘Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For’ every year since 2015.

Committed to equality and diversity and specifically promoting the role of women and Black and Minority Ethnic individuals in leadership roles, she has chaired the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisation’s national Black and Asian Leadership Special Interest Group.

Mrs Shafaq currently sits on the boards of Birmingham County Football Association, Citizen Housing and Kidderminster Harriers where she has lead responsibility for equality and mental health.

She is also a member of the Premier League’s Equality and Diversity Panel. In February last year, she was appointed as one of the first women, and first woman of colour, to the Professional Footballer’s Association Charity.