Picnics fly the flag for Pride month
Over 200 staff at Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals have celebrated Pride month with special picnics at each site.
The annual celebrations, which were open to all staff, were organised by the Trust’s LGBTQ+ network to help raise awareness of issues facing the community and to celebrate its diverse staff network. Staff enjoyed complimentary picnic packs, a rare treat.
These, along with a series of other events, have all helped LGBTQ+ staff feel engaged and a real part of the Trust’s community.
Joshua Cologne, Events Manager and Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ network group, said: "Pride Month is such a fun and exciting time as it celebrates being proud of who you are and giving kindness to the LGBTQ+ community. As a member of the community Pride is super important to me as I see it as a valuable time to celebrate love and individuality and to talk about acceptance and inclusivity.
“It’s been great to see so many people take part in the Pride picnics and I think the Trust has a very inclusive environment. Supporting such events is important to the LGBTQ+ community, as we all have a part to play in educating, awareness-raising and shaping our workplace to be an inclusive environment."