7 May 2021

Staff from across the Trust are sharing their experiences of being LGBT+ and why they wear the Trust’s new Progress Rainbow Badges. The badges have an inclusive flag which staff wear to show their support for LGBT+ patients, carers, visitors and colleagues.

Nik, who works in the Trust’s Employment Service to support former patients return to work, shares his experience here

“Being a gay man helps me to understand the challenges that people might face in their workplace simply by being themselves.” 

“In my role as an employment specialist, I support people with mental health difficulties into paid work. Many of my clients have experienced discrimination – something I have experienced as a gay man. By understanding their difficulties, I have been able to engage and empathise and more effectively challenge this in their jobs and support them to sustain high quality paid work.” 

“I also want to be a visible role model for my colleagues too.”

“Even though we are a diverse Trust, locally I have some colleagues who do not feel comfortable to be open about their sexuality in the workplace; by being open myself and showing my support, I hope I can encourage more people to be themselves.”

“If I hear ignorant comments, this makes me more passionate to achieve change. It also makes me realise that more work needs to happen to promote diversity and help staff understand that being LGBT+ can be an asset in the workplace, we are bringing different perspectives, life experiences, ideas; diversity promotes innovation”

“My goal is to help create more LGBT+ friendly / safe spaces within our Trust and keep on supporting LGBT+ people (and non-LGBT+ people) to thrive in our society through having high-quality and inclusive paid work.

Staff can request a badge by emailing the PRIDE@CNWL LGBT+ Staff Network – details on Trustnet