UN Women HeForShe Awards: Influencers and activists gather for inaugural ceremony in London

On Wednesday a host of influential men and women came together for the very first HeForShe Awards at London's AllBright Mayfair.

Hosted by Deborah Frances-White - writer and creator of The Guilty Feminist podcast - the UN Women UK awards recognised the work of individuals and organisations striving for gender equality in a variety of fields.

Winners included Elliot Rae, founder of MusicFootballFatherhood, which pushes for a more diverse representation of fatherhood and gender equality, and Kyvin Hyland OBE, the UK's first Anti-Slavery Commissioner, who was given the HeForShe Leadership Award.

Deborah Frances-White (Dave Benett)

Football club Lewes FC was awarded a HeForShe Inspiration Award for being the first football club to give male and female players equal pay.

Claire Barnett and Vicky Lee (Dave Benett)

Entries were judged by a panel that included Steveie Spring, Chair at charity MIND, Charlotte Valeur, Chair at Institute of Directors and Gillian Orr, Head of Content at Refinery 29.

HeForShe was launched by actress and feminist Emma Watson in 2014 and invites people of all genders to stand together with women to create a bold, visible and united force for gender equality. HeForShe champions have already helped double the number of women in their organisation's leadership as well as pushing to outlaw child marriage.