NHS trust receives award for commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion

CNTW LGBT Staff Network at Cumbria Pride, pictured with a range of colourful balloons behind them — CNTW LGBT Staff Network at Cumbria Pride

An NHS trust which operates in Cumbria has received a Silver Employer award for its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work.

The award comes as part of LGBTQ+ equality charity Stonewall’s Bring Yourself to Work campaign which highlights the importance of inclusive work environments.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), one of the largest providers of mental health and disability services in the north of England, has received the accolade for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace.

Stonewall is the world’s second-largest LGBTQ+ charity. For twenty years, the charity has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people.

According to the charity’s research, more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQ+.

James Duncan, Chief Executive at CNTW (he/his) said: “I am proud that we continue to work with Stonewall in tackling stigma and promoting the rights of our LGBTQ+ community.

“We want to be recognised as one of the best places to work and to stand up for the rights of a diverse and thriving work community. We all deserve to be respected and valued for who we are, and we will continue to work with our LGBTQ+ Staff Network, and all staff, to ensure that we can all stand tall and be proud of who we are and what we bring.

“A diverse, welcoming, supportive workplace is the basis of a successful and thriving organisation, and is at the core of us providing great service to our local communities.”

Simon Pearson, Chair of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network at CNTW (he/his) said: “I am so overjoyed that we have received a Silver Employer award and have risen over 100 places in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index this year.

“I am honoured to be the chair of this amazing Staff Network, and proud that that trust is continuing to make headway to ensure that we are working in a diverse organisation where everyone’s individuality is respected and accepted, without exception.

“There is still plenty of work to do across the trust, but I do not question our enthusiasm, determination and commitment to ensuring we reach our goals of making this a great place to work and to receive care.”

The trust’s activity to improve LGBTQ+ inclusion in recent months has ranged from changes to policies to make the wording more inclusive, and the introduction of a Trans Inclusion Policy, to the provision of regular training on LGBTQ+ issues to trainee psychologists and nurses at local universities.

This year, as always, the trust will be attending local Pride events.

In February, the trust also issued a statement to support the ban on “conversion therapy”.

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said: “We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work.

“From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing.

“It’s fantastic that Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has gained a Silver Employer award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.”