Birmingham heritage hero nominated for major award

History project puts researcher in line for National Lottery recognition.

A Heritage Hero from Birmingham who is educating young people and women about South Asian history is in line for recognition after being nominated for a 2021 National Lottery Award.

Kiran Sahota has been shortlisted in the heritage category for their outstanding work in their local community.

Kiran is a Heritage and Education Consultant, Project Manager, history researcher and public speaker specialising in South Asian history. She is the founding organiser of the community interest company Believe in Me which seeks to empower young people and women through education and raise awareness of South Asian histories that are not taught in mainstream education.
She is especially passionate about empowering women in their culture and heritage, and her recent project Indian Women and War encourages young people to explore the impact of the Second World War on Indian women and uncover the hidden voices of Indian women from the past to the present.

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite National Lottery funded people and projects and they celebrate the inspirational individuals and groups who do extraordinary things in their community especially during these challenging times.

This year, more than 1,500 people were nominated for the work they have carried out with the help of National Lottery funding.

Next month a panel, made up of representatives of The National Lottery and partners, will decide the winners in each category from a shortlist of five.

Winners will be revealed in the autumn and will receive a £3,000 cash prize for their organisation and a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy.

Kiran said, “It is a great honour to have been nominated for a National Lottery Award. Support from the National Lottery has allowed Believe in Me CIC to create new projects that educate young people and empower people from South Asian communities who may not have learnt about their heritage through mainstream education.”

Jonathan Tuchner, from The National Lottery, commented: “Since 1994, The National Lottery has made a huge positive impact on life across the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players and the £36 million raised each week for good causes, thousands of organisations are making an incredible impact and difference in their local areas.

“The National Lottery Awards honour those who have stepped up and stood out like Kiran Sahota, who work tirelessly for their community. They deserve great praise and our thanks for their incredible work.”