Posted on: 24 August 2021
Robyn Doran, CNWL’s Chief Operating Officer, was spreading the pride spirit this week when she handed out the Trust’s new progress rainbow badges to the Executive Team.
Earlier this year CNWL’s LGBT+ staff network (Pride@CNWL) launched new Progress Rainbow Badges and staff across the Trust have already been wearing them proudly.
Shamal Waraich, CNWL’s Pride@CNWL Staff Network Diversity Lead and Senior Peer Support Worker in the Trust’s Sexual Health Service, said:
“We want to encourage equality, inclusivity and diversity across the Trust which includes coming up with initiatives that help staff and patients feel recognised and supported, regardless of their identity.”
The badge includes the six colour rainbow flag, which is considered a symbol for the LGBT+ community, and has five additional colours to represent the trans community, marginalised LGBT+ communities of colour and those living with AIDS.
Handing out the badges Robyn Doran, who identifies as a lesbian said, “It’s important patients and staff see the Executive Team wearing progress badges so they know LGBT+ inclusion is fully incorporated at every level in the Trust.”
Any staff member who wears a badge does so to be a listening ear to LGBT+ staff and patients, they also advocate for inclusion and equality of all the diverse identities, genders and sexualities in the LGBT+ community.
What motivates someone to wear a badge can be different, some staff identify as being part of the LGBT+ community, so it can be a personal reason, and for others they wear it because they want to celebrate diversity in an open visual way.
Previously Sofia Venuti, Co-Chair of Pride@CNWL, has talked about why she wears a progress badge, read the article here.
While Robyn Doran was handing out progress badges, she and other members of the Executive Team recorded why they wear it, and you can see their responses below.
Robyn Doran, Chief Operating Officer
"Staff that work within this organisation can see this badge and feel that there are senior people in the organisation that will be supporting them."
Charlotte Bailey, Executive Director of Organisational Development and People
"We're such a diverse Trust at Central North West London - this represents what we stand for and hearing all our people and celebrating all our diversity and all our talents."
Graeme Caul, Deputy Chief Operating Officer who identifies as a gay man said
"I hope it will help some of our staff and patients know that they see me wearing this, they can come up and talk to me about any issues, concerns or fears that they may have."
Hannah Witty, Chief Finance Officer
"I will wear this with pride because I think it's a really lovely visible symbol of our commitment to inclusion in this organisation."
NHS England and Improvement will host the first ever national Pride in the NHS week. From 6 – 10 September there will be events dedicated to LGBT+ NHS colleagues including talks about health, careers and plenty more to experience in the virtual festival arena, like a dance hall. The celebrations conclude with a virtual NHS Pride celebration on 10 September.
NHS staff can sign up for virtual Pride and get the link to join here.
Full programme for the week available here.