Colleagues from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Stepping Hill Hospital and a range of community NHS services, set up a stall in the market hall during Stockport Pride. The stall highlighted the support available for LGBTQ+ colleagues and patients, and promoted recruitment opportunities at the trust. Stockport NHS Charity also lent its support, holding a fundraising raffle at the same location. A glitter bar added a layer of glamour to the day and proved to be one of the busiest spots at the stall.
Commitment to an inclusive NHS
The trust’s participation in Stockport Pride was about more than just celebration. It was a chance for the organisation to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to equality and diversity, both in the care it provides and in its role as an employer. Colleagues from across the trust took part, including human resources and inclusion teams, to speak directly with members of the public about what it is like to work for the health service in Stockport.
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for Stepping Hill Hospital as well as local community health services. Events like this allow the trust to engage with residents in an informal setting, breaking down barriers and ensuring that healthcare is welcoming to everyone.
Glitter bar and fundraising raffle
Stockport NHS Charity joined the effort and held a fundraising raffle, giving visitors the chance to win prizes while supporting local health services. The glitter bar was a particularly popular feature, attracting people of all ages who wanted to add sparkle to their Pride outfits. It also served as an ice-breaker, helping to create a friendly and approachable atmosphere around the NHS stall.
A celebration of diversity and community
Stockport Pride is an annual celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex community. The day included a colourful parade through the town centre, which NHS colleagues joined alongside other local groups. Entertainment was hosted by drag duo The Vegan Queens, with appearances from Prairie Dogs – the longest-running non-profit LGBTQ+ line dancing club in the UK – and three singers: Jsky, Xander, and Rowetta, formerly of the Happy Mondays and The X Factor.
The parade and stage performances created a joyful and welcoming atmosphere, drawing in families, friends and allies from across the community.
Solidarity after the Berlin attack
Despite the celebratory mood, there was a sombre note. The weekend had seen a horrific terrorist attack on Berlin Pride, and those at Stockport Pride took a moment to remember the victims and express solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in Germany. The attack served as a stark reminder that Pride remains a vital event, as prejudice and violence against the community are still present in society.
‘We will always show our solidarity, allyship and support’
Stuart McKenna, assistant director of Human Resources (Inclusion and Colleague Experience) at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, spoke about the importance of the event. He said: "Stockport Pride is always a great event, and as always our NHS colleagues were proud to be part of it, and to show that we will always aim to create an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ+ colleagues and the local community. It was huge fun as always, but as the terrible events in Berlin showed the ongoing struggles against prejudice towards the community are very real. We will always show our solidarity, allyship and support."
The trust’s presence at Stockport Pride reinforces the message that the NHS in Stockport stands with its LGBTQ+ staff, patients and neighbours. Stepping Hill Hospital and the wider trust services continue to champion inclusion, both on Pride day and throughout the year.
