STAFF from Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) invited colleagues, partners and those who have accessed their services to come together and show their support for Chester Pride.

The launch took place at Redesmere in Chester and attendees gathered to watch the Trust’s chief executive Sheena Cumiskey raise the Pride flag in honour of CWP’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

During the celebration attendees enjoyed a co-produced Pride cake designed by people who access CWP services and made by people who work in the Trust, spent the afternoon listenned to world-renowned transgender advocate Jessica Lynn share her story.

Members of Chester Pride Committee and the LGBT+ choir Proud Mary’s also came along to join in with the celebrations.

Sheena said: “I was delighted to see so many people come together to celebrate and show their support to the LGBQT+ community. It is our goal at CWP to help people be the best they can be and equality and diversity play a huge role in this.”

Philip Makin, equality, diversity and inclusion co-ordinator for CWP, said: “The day was such a brilliant demonstration of how seriously CWP treats equality, diversity and inclusion as both an employer and a service provider.”

"The fact that so many people from so many teams within CWP, including trust board members, volunteers and governors, were celebrating along with representatives from partner organisations and LGBT+ support groups sends out such a powerful message to people and also raises awareness of Chester Pride on 10 August, which CWP is delighted to be sponsoring once again.

"It is great to be part of such an inclusive team!”

Jessica Lynn said: “I’m thrilled to have attended the CWP Chester Pride event and I really wish I could attend the main event on August 10th. I hope you can all come along and help people understand what it means to be part of the beautiful LGBQT community and to help spread diversity across the world.”

The event was CWP’s second Pride celebration of the year, with the first taking place at Delamere Resource Centre in Crewe.

Colleagues from trust teams such as the Patient and Carer Experience team and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service will be attending the official Chester Pride celebration on August 10 at Castle Square in Chester.