Hospices from across the Midlands are joining forces for this year’s Birmingham Pride to promote the message “hospice care is for all”.
Teams from seven hospices will come together to host a float in the parade on Saturday, 25th May – aiming to raise awareness of hospice services among the LGBT community.
Taking part is: St Richard’s Hospice, Worcester, Marie Curie, West Midlands, St Giles Hospice, Lichfield, Mary Stevens Hospice, Stourbridge, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, Compton Care, Wolverhampton, and John Taylor Hospice, Birmingham.
Alice Spearing, a spokesperson for the group, said: “Research shows people who identify as LGBT are more likely to have poorer health outcomes and are less likely to engage in healthcare in fear of discrimination, stigma and isolation.
“Each of the hospices involved is committed to widening the reach and access of their support for the LGBT community with different projects taking place at the different hospices.
“Love Out Loud is the theme for Birmingham Pride this year – ‘a celebration of our right to love, not only other people, but ourselves too, and to do it loud’.
“As hospices, we want to support this theme as we provide compassion, warmth and person-centered care to meet individual needs.”
Each hospice is a member of the Community Engagement Network which works to share best practice on community outreach and development to widen access to hospice care.
The seven charities were inspired by the London Hospices LGBT network and identified Birmingham Pride as an opportunity to engage with members of the LGBT community.
Dozens of hospice staff and volunteers will be onboard and walking alongside the decorated float to promote individual hospices and hand out collective resources to the public. The parade begins at Victoria Square at 12pm.
The hospice group will be tweeting using the hashtag #HospicePride. Follow the hospices on Twitter for updates along the way including photos of the decorated float.