Staffordshire Fire & Rescue: Celebrating Pride 2018!

Stoke-on-Trent Pride celebrated its 12th anniversary this year and continues to go from strength to strength.

Stoke-on-Trent Pride had humble beginnings when it started in 2006 in the car park of Hanley´s previous popular LGBTQ venue, The Club. Since then, they have grown to become a Registered Charity in their own right, managed by Trustees and Committee members. The committee has an excellent, diverse mix of active local people who believe that Stoke-on-Trent Pride is crucial to the representation of the LGBTQ community in the city.

Their main focus is the annual celebration day held at Hanley Park. With an arena providing live entertainment, interactive arts and activities, picnic areas and a wealth of stalls and food outlets, their aim to provide a family-friendly day that celebrates both the LGBT community itself and engagement with the wider community of the Potteries and beyond was again successful.

There is also a very serious side to what they do. With the help of many community supporters, they are also able to use some of the events to provide essential health information, screening and support services to members of the LGBTQ that might not be reached through other channels.

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service stall was run by volunteers who encouraged attendees to sign up for an email to remind them to test their smoke alarms and to sign up to news about the fire service, this was done by entering a prize draw for amazon vouchers.

Some fire safety advice had been given out along with advice for people wishing to join the fire service.  

Lastly I would like to say a very big thank you to our volunteers who ran the event on the day and to Red Watch, Hanley. The Volunteers that helped were Matthew Timmis, Lucy Hancock and Maria Khatun.