Pride Month in June is an annual global event which recognises and celebrates the influence LGBTQ+ people have had around the world. As well as being a month-long celebration including parades, parties and community events, it’s also an opportunity to bring communities together. Pride has grown from strength to strength in recent years and local events took place up and down the country all summer.
In August, Orbit colleagues went along to Pride events in Margate, Hastings, Leamington Spa and Bexley, to show support for LGBTQ+ communities and take part in the celebrations, and also to meet customers face-to-face and share details about Orbit’s Better Days programme, which helps thousands of customers each year with free information, advice and guidance.
In 2021, Orbit signed up for the HouseProud Pledge Scheme to demonstrate its commitment to achieving the aim that Orbit homes should be safe spaces where people can be themselves. Orbit’s attendance at the Pride events was prompted by its LGBTQ+ customer engagement group who help Orbit bring the Houseproud pledge to life.
John Bennett, one of Orbit’s Engaged Customers who attended some of the events, said: “The LGBTQ+ customer engagement group is proud that Orbit provides homes to people from all backgrounds without discrimination, including sexual orientation or gender identity. As Engaged Customers, we support Orbit getting out into local communities and meeting with residents in such a positive way. It sends a message to everyone that discrimination of any form is not okay. It was also great to meet people in the community and share information about all the free services that are available to exclusively to Orbit customers.”