Two weeks today we are holding our first LGBTQ Forum for CHFT staff.

It will be on Thursday Aug 16  at 4.30pm  in Meeting Room 4, Acre Mill Outpatients, Huddersfield with tea/coffee and cake! The forum will be co-hosted by Director of HR and Workforce Development Suzanne Dunkley and Associate Medical Director Sal Uka who want to encourage LGBTQ staff, their friends and supporters to attend. Suzanne and Sal explain more below.

Why are we hosting a LGBTQ forum?

‘We are genuinely committed to creating an environment at CHFT where everyone feels respected and valued. We want to know how colleagues think that we can consistently achieve this for those of who identify themselves as LGBTQ. It’s about recognising and celebrating diversity in the workplace’.

Who can attend and what form will it take?

Anyone with an interest in continuing to create an inclusive and respectful environment and culture within the Trust. The event will take an open forum shaped to listen to ideas from colleagues. The major topic for discussion at this first meeting is how we can develop an inclusive and effective forum for LGBTQ across CHFT.

Why is it important to the Trust?

Recognising, respecting and celebrating differences is core to our values as a Trust. We cannot achieve Compassionate Care for our patients if we do not understand their differing needs or care compassionately for each other. The more diverse, inclusive and respectful we are about our similarities and differences, the better we can deliver one culture of compassionate care - for colleagues and patients.

Sal says: "Some colleagues may not feel comfortable about going to a LGBTQ forum or think that this isn’t really a problem for them. Whilst I understand these views, for some, identifying themselves as LGBTQ or supporting others  who are, might be a really difficult thing especially at work. No matter what your view we would love to hear from you and look forward to seeing you there’.