Eastern Eye reporter wins accolade

A reporter for Eastern Eye newspaper has scooped an award for his articles on disabilities in the Asian community.

Nadeem Badshah was named Young Person of the Year by RADAR, the UK�۪s largest disability campaigning network.

Badshah, senior reporter for EE, was honoured for his story on disabled British Asians being forced into marriage by their families.

Also, his investigation into families sending their disabled children to unqualified spiritual healers to cure them, and a front page story on the agonising wait that disabled kids face to be fostered.

RADAR said, “As a reporter for Eastern Eye, Nadeem has developed an exceptional reputation for pioneering campaigning journalism. His articles have time and again shed light on rarely-discussed and controversial issues affecting disabled people in Asian communities.

“His work on issues such as abuse and forced marriage is bringing about real change for the better for disabled people in Asian communities.”

The judges included Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson; Saghir Alam from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission; and Vidar Hjardeng, diversity manager for ITV.

Liz Sayce, chief executive of Radar, said, “We are celebrating organisations and individuals who are, quite simply, changing Britain.

“At present, people living with disability or health conditions experience needless inequality and injustice ��� but these winners are changing that.

“I would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who are transforming opportunities in practical and profound ways and who have helped make the Radar People of the Year Awards such a spectacular success.”

The RADAR awards were held at Battersea Evolution arena last month.