Diversity Council represented at Brighton Pride
Members of Lifeways’ Diversity Council, team members and people we support came together to take part in Brighton Pride, proudly representing Lifeways and the wider adult social care sector at one of the UK's largest celebrations of equality, diversity and inclusion.
The group joined the parade as part of the Outstanding Society Diversity Forum, alongside organisations from across health and social care. The event marked the third consecutive year that Lifeways representatives have taken part in Pride celebrations, following previous attendances at London Pride and Manchester Pride.
The parade took around three hours to complete in glorious sunshine, with participants walking more than 18,000 steps through the streets of Brighton.
For Karen Roberts, Head of Health and Clinical Governance, Pride reflects values that are central to social care: "As a member of the Lifeways Diversity Council and Co-Chair of the North East and Yorkshire Social Care Nursing Advisory Council (SCNACs), I felt it was really important to be part of Brighton Pride. It was a chance to show our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, but also to stand alongside the people we support, our colleagues and others across the social care sector who share those same values.
"Pride is so important because inclusion is at the heart of everything we do in adult social care. It's about making sure everyone feels seen, valued and respected for who they are.”
Hannah Barnes, Support Worker at The Valley mental health service in Southampton, said Pride is about helping people feel accepted and valued: “Supporting equality and inclusion is something that really matters to me. As an ally, it was a great opportunity to show my support for the LGBTQ+ community while representing Lifeways and the values we promote.
"My favourite part was definitely the atmosphere. Everyone was so friendly, welcoming and supportive, and it was amazing to see so many people coming together to celebrate."
People supported by Lifeways were also proud to take part in the celebrations. Addison, who lives at the Beada House mental health service in Bedworth, described Pride as an opportunity to celebrate individuality and inclusion: "It was an opportunity to be able to show my sexuality and be able to express myself how I want to.
"It was an amazing day which I will never forget."
Tayla, a person we support at The Valley, spoke passionately about the importance of Pride and supporting LGBTQ+ rights: "It shows the LGBTQ+ community that people support them and stand with them. It demonstrates that they should not feel ashamed of who they are and shows them that people appreciate and celebrate them for who they are."
"The atmosphere was fantastic, the parade was great fun, and we got to meet some lovely people."
Beverley Deeming, Deputy Manager at Beada House, said she was proud to represent Lifeways at the event, and like many of those who attended, her strongest memory was the overwhelming support from spectators lining the streets: "The whole day was an amazing experience and the one thing that stood out for me was the number of people who came to watch the parade."
By taking part in Brighton Pride, Lifeways team members and the people we support proudly demonstrate our ongoing commitment to creating inclusive communities where everyone feels respected, valued and empowered to be themselves.