Brunswick is so proud of its long-standing relationship with Happy Valley Pride. It was a real pleasure to be part of Happy Valley Pride’s 10th anniversary celebrations this summer. Reaching such an important milestone is a fantastic achievement and reflects the commitment, creativity and hard work of everyone involved over the past decade.
We were also proud to continue sponsoring the Info Fair. This valuable part of the Big Day Out grows every year, bringing together a fantastic range of organisations to showcase their work, meet local people and talk about the support available across our communities.
Brunswick has worked alongside Happy Valley Pride for many years, and this relationship shows what can happen when organisations share ideas, experience and resources. No single organisation can address every challenge facing LGBTQ+ people. Strong partnerships help us reach more people, understand different experiences and provide support that feels relevant and accessible.
That same collaborative approach sits at the heart of Well Proud. It brings together a growing range of projects focused on different aspects of LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing across Calderdale and Kirklees.
These include Queer as Smoke, which helps LGBTQ+ people access inclusive stop smoking support; LEVEL, a specialist domestic abuse programme shaped around the real and complex experiences of LGBTQ+ people; Queer Bits, which encourages people to check their bodies, attend cancer screening and seek advice when something does not feel right; and Mind Your Head, our mental health campaign developed in partnership with Happy Valley Pride to encourage open conversations and connect LGBTQ+ people with support.
Although each project has a different focus, they share an important goal: to help LGBTQ+ people feel healthier, safer, more informed and better supported. Brunswick also provides LGBTQ+ youth groups, alongside HIV support and prevention services. Events such as Happy Valley Pride allow us to showcase this vital work and to celebrate our communities while creating space for important conversations. It was great to speak with so many people during the anniversary celebrations and share more about Well Proud and the support available.
On the same day as the Big Day Out, members of our team were also at Holmfirth’s second Pride, which, like Happy Valley Pride, was established in response to a violent homophobic attack in the town. It was a powerful reminder of why Pride events remain so vital, bringing communities together to stand against hate and show that LGBTQ+ people deserve to feel safe, visible and supported.
I would encourage everyone to explore the Well Proud projects, share the information with others and help us continue building stronger connections across our communities.
John McKernaghan, Chief Officer at Brunswick