SECAmb staff take a stand at Pride

South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) staff will be amongst thousands of others at this year’s Pride Brighton & Hove on Saturday 1 August.

It is the ninth consecutive year that staff from the Trust’s Sussex, Surrey and Kent regions will represent SECAmb at the event to be held in Preston Park and they will be joined by fellow ambulance service colleagues from across the country.

SECAmb’s Inclusion Manager Angela Rayner who is organising the Trust’s involvement in the event, said: “We’re hosting a meeting with representatives from all other ambulance services the day before to re-launch a national LGBT forum. Most have confirmed they will be joining the parade so it looks like it will be an even bigger event for the ambulance service than in previous years.”

Around 80 staff will walk with the Trust’s float in the parade and, as last year, SECAmb is in official attendance at the park with a stand where staff will demonstrate life-saving skills, provide advice on recruitment, Community First Responder Schemes and how to become a member of the Trust. It will also be an opportunity for staff to spread awareness amongst the public on killer conditions such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

Geraint Davies, Director of Commercial Services and Chair of PRIDE in SECAmb said: “SECAmb is absolutely delighted to take part once again in Pride Brighton & Hove.  SECAmb values diversity and this is reflected in our strong turnout at the event. The tremendous support we get from the crowds lining the streets is an amazing experience and makes me proud to be part of SECAmb.”

SECAmb continues to work in partnership with organisations such as the Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (ENEI).  The Trust recently received the Gold Standard Award for Equality for the second year running. Alongside Santander, it was one of only two organisations nationally to receive the standard for 2015.