This Friday, our Deputy Chief Executive, Anna Basford will be leading CHFT's annual Pride Parade. Everyone is welcome to join the parade outside the main entrance at HRI at 12:00. The parade is expected to finish around 12:30, but colleagues are welcome to join for as much or as little time as they can.

Throughout CHFT's Pride Month, we've been asking colleagues what Pride means to them. We've had some wonderful responses. Here are just a few:

"Pride means being accepted and thriving in a society where love and individuality are celebrated. It’s walking hand-in-hand with my husband without fear, and being recognised first and foremost as a human being. It’s working towards a world free from stigma, where future generations can grow up without prejudice, and standing alongside our trans brothers and sisters in unity. Pride is love without limits, courage without apology, and hope without end." - Occupational Therapist, Michael Rathbone-Kwiecien

"It means equality, freedom to love whoever you want to love. Love is what makes the world go round so the more love the better." - Specialist Nurse, Gemma Gordon

"For me it means allyship, supporting others - friends, family, and colleagues letting them know that they matter and encouraging them to be their authentic selves. Pride is a colourful celebration of human diversity and diversity benefits everyone." - Matron for Workforce Development, Victoria Power

"Pride is about feeling happy to share your sexuality with the world. It is about feeling comfortable with who you are and feeling that you don't need to pretend to be someone you are not, just so you can fit in. It is about finding the real friends and family who are also happy with the real you. Pride is about not having to carry your sexuality as if it is a burden." - Staff Nurse, Richard McArtney

"To me, Pride means freedom - the freedom to love openly without apology, and to live fully as myself. It's the courage of everyone who came before me and fought so that we can stand here today as free people loving others of the same sex without shame. I'm proudly engaged to the love of my life who is a lady and I beam with pride every day that I can do so, freely. Pride is not just a celebration - it's a reminder that who we are and who we love is something beautiful and worth joy. It's freedom, authenticity and extraordinary." - Houskeeper, Nicole McGinley