We are delighted to have launched our Covenant and to have received such interest and enthusiasm from organisations across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin. Scroll down to see who is signing up to the 5 commitments and what they are doing in their action plans to fulfil these.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
Information and Advice is only one of the extensive range of services provided by AgeUK STW, they also offer help and support with: advocacy, living power of attorney (charged service), help at home (charged but subsidised), home from hospital scheme (South Shropshire only) and lots of social groups, including dementia support, dementia respite service, 28 day centres, knitting, ballet, women’s walking football, many more.
AgeUKSTW has been involved with SAND from the very beginning:
- their CEO is one of the founder members, as well as being on the original panel for the UK premiere of Gen Silent.
- SAND has worked with AgeUKSTW to develop their LGBT+ specific REACH tele-friending service
- about a dozen staff have taken part in the SAND LGBT+ Awareness Training
- their CEO took part in the first tranche of our Training for Facilitators
- they had a stall at our Afternoon Tea event in May 2022
- the organisation is in conversation with the ‘In the Café’ older & old LGBT+ Group to see how they can support them moving forwards
- AgeUK will also be hosting a display of the LGBT+ History Boards in their prominent public-facing windows during the 2023 LGBT+ History festival.
We are delighted to see their very public declaration of commitment to the Covenant: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/shropshireandtelford/about-us/news/articles/2023/we-embrace-a-culture-of-inclusion/
Alzheimer’s Society
Alzheimer’s Society – have started working on their Action Plan. They say:
- We circulate the SAND newsletter and add it to our local social media pages.
- Our local Facebook page followed SAND and shares articles and events with a wider audience.
- Attended a webinar where the guest presenter was a gay person living with dementia ‘The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in the dementia community’ and contributed to the subsequent discussion.
- Taken part in allyship webinars and discussions.
- Used the videos of the sessions as part of a new staff member’s induction.
- Staff are updating their training and sharing training opportunities they come across with their colleagues.
Axis Counselling
Axis Counselling – has signed up and say “We want Axis to provide a safe and equitable service for workers and clients alike, we want our service to be fully inclusive to everyone. No matter what sexuality or gender identification we feel that everybody deserves a safe space to deal with their trauma and to move forward with their lives, in line with SAND” Be Yourself” values”.
- Counselling: Since signing up to the Covenant , We now have a designated LGBTQ+ champion counsellor who has worked with a number of LGBTQ+ clients. These clients have been of all ages, including 70+, and all have been given a safe and non-judgemental space in which to explore and process their trauma.
- ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor) Service: We now have a specialist LGBTQ+ ISVA who acts as point of contact who provides advice and support to other members of staff and seeks out any relevant training to disseminate to the team.
Many of our ISVA’s have been on the SAND LGBT+ Awareness training course which has provided them with a better understanding of the issues and barriers in relation to clients coming forward to report.
We have promoted SAND through events and meetings and have referred clients for support and guidance.
Citizens Advice Shropshire
CAS provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone and campaigns to improve the policies that affect people’s lives. CAS also provides specialist services including: Pension Wise – a free and impartial government guidance service about the different ways you can take money from your pension. Their debt team provides specialist advice on managing your money and dealing with your debts.
CAS was the first organisation to sign up to the Covenant. They:
- have helped SAND to develop the Covenant itself, helping us to tweak and shape our template action plan.
- they have developed and have now started implementing their own action plan.
- their CEO talked about their commitment at the 2022 Shrewsbury LGBT+ History Festival Launch event
- their lead for the Covenant took part in our panel at the Future-proofing event we held in October 2022
- They have a staff member booked onto Tranche 2 of the EMBRACE Facilitator Training, Autumn 2023.
They have a Pride flag on the home page of their website and a clear statement about their commitment to the Covenant.
Community Resource
Community Resource – has signed up to the Covenant because they want to:
- improve access to their services for older and old LGBT+ people
- build effective relationships with older and old LGBT+ people
- build effective relationships with other organisations who support and provide services for older and old LGBT+ people
- be an example of good practice in the Sector
They have developed their action plan and have already commissioned and received a SAND LGBT+ Awareness course in June 2023, attended by 18 staff and 2 Trustees. The senior management team has met with SAND to talk through their action plan which is now being implemented.
Coverage Care Services Ltd
Coverage is a not-for-profit organisation, providing nursing, residential and respite care services for older people and those living with dementia or a disability throughout Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin
- They have identified some enthusiastic and dedicated staff as champions, and now hold regular meetings for the champions to agree to their corporate approach to raising awareness. The Champions are sharing their commitment to the covenant in staff meetings and discussing during their shifts. All champions photos are displayed in reception areas and Champions wear a rainbow flay badge for easy identification.
- The Champions are developing a leaflet specifically about LGBT+ inclusivity.
- Rainbow flags are displayed on the entrance doors.
- All of their homes have the Age UK LGBTQ+ information booklets to share with residents, families and staff.
- They have added a LGBTQ+ resources area to their training portal and regularly post podcast discussions, articles and links available to all of staff and residents. They are also putting 1000 staff through the Care Skills Academy Course LGBT Aware to Care
- They have amended their admission documents to ask about people’s identity in the hope by raising the question their residents may wish to talk about their life experiences and are developing a script for answering the phone which asks about he callers ‘partner’.
- They have committed to celebrating LGBTQ+ History Festival by showcasing information boards in their homes
- They are busy planning activities to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride month.
- One of their residents has recently “come out” whilst in the care home and the manager has supported the individual to attend SAND’s In the Café and to take part in The Wave Project.
Cruse Bereavement Services (West Midlands)
Cruse helps people through one of the most painful times in life – with bereavement support, information and campaigning.
They are a national organisation and the team at the West Midlands branch have a very good relationship with SAND, proactively arranging regular meetings to talk through ideas and working towards the development of a specific resource for older and old LGBT+ people.
Since signing up to the Covenant, Cruse has:
- developed a very doable action plan
- two Cruse volunteers have taken part in our LGBT+ Awareness Training
- the same two Cruse volunteers have taken part in our Training for Facilitators programme.
- started discussion with SAND about co-producing useful resources aimed specifically at LGBT+ people.
- revised and audited the Cruse website and marketing materials (awaiting clearance)
- carrying out pilot CPD taster session with Bereavement volunteers in April, using person centred training techniques to introduce SAND film clips and to facilitate discussion to raise awareness
- revised referral forms to include gender.
Energize STW
The Energize purpose is to improve quality of life through the benefits of physical activity. Amongst other things, Energize host the Elevate programme. This is a movement exercise programme designed for over 60s to strengthen muscles to improve and maintain posture, coordination, and balance.
Since signing up to the Covenant, Energize STW has:
- commissioned SAND to run a half day LGBT+ Awareness session with 13 members of the team (2 on Zoom!)
- developed an action plan
- met with SAND to discuss how to take their action plan forward
Energize are recording their own progress on their action plan on their website.
Forum 50+
Forum 50+ is a small charity supporting people over 50 in Telford and Wrekin, with a specific focus on reducing loneliness and isolation and helping people maintain their wellbeing and independence.
The charity provides:
- One to one befriending and support services, including help managing everyday tasks.
- Help to overcome barriers to social connection.
- Regular meet up groups
- 50+ Friends social network offering a variety of group activities including evenings and weekends
- Exercise classes
- Digital support at sessions and at home.
- Opportunities to volunteer.
We are very pleased to be a member of The Covenant and will continue to develop our understanding of the needs of the older LGBT+ community and the barriers they might face accessing services, support and social connection and opportunities to be involved in their local communities.
Healthwatch Shropshire
Healthwatch Shropshire – want to demonstrate their commitment to being an inclusive organization, welcoming of all people in volunteer roles, staff team, professional relationships and most importantly for members of the public contacting them.
They have developed an initial action plan which includes the following points:
- All staff, volunteers and board members attend Diverse Shropshire: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training course as part of their induction.
- During our Enter & View visits to care homes and hospital wards we ask how they are ensuring all people feel welcome and in particular that LGBT+ people feel comfortable in these environments
Marches Energy Agency
Marches Energy Agency (MEA) is a charity formed in 1998. Our core work is around fuel poverty. MEA runs free energy advice lines across Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin providing free and impartial advice in relation to:
- Keeping warm and well at home
- Energy bills, tariffs & suppliers
- Insulation and heating grants
- Energy efficiency measures
- Health and cold homes
We support householders over the phone, by email, letter or with a home visit.
All our staff received training from SAND & we are excited to sign up to the Covenant. As our first steps we are:
- Creating a working group to look at our Action Plan
- Revising policies
- Reviewing our website to include LGBTQ+ information
- Nominating an EDI Lead
- Incorporating the SAND logo on our website and email footers
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust signed the Covenant to EMBRACE a Culture of Inclusion in March 2024.
Much Wenlock and Cressage Medical Practice
the SAND Team has had an initial meeting with them to discuss development of their action plan. The Covenant lead has also contributed lots of ideas about how to reach other colleagues and let them know about SAND and the EMBRACE project and it looks like a staff member may book onto Tranche 2 of the EMBRACE Facilitator Training, Autumn 2023.
Partners in Care
is a ‘care association’ representing approximately 240 independent Nursing, Residential, Supported Living and Domiciliary Care providers in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Since signing up to the Covenant, SPIC has:
- submitted their Action Plan
- part funded the development of our Training for Facilitators programme
- their Training Officer took part in the first tranche of the Training for Facilitators
- met with SAND to discuss how they can take the learning forward
- promoted SAND events in their e-newsletter
- begun shaping ideas for a resource around ‘Developing Good Practice Guides for Social care in Shropshire’
Positive Steps Shropshire
are reviewing all of their policies and procedures to make sure they are inclusive. They are also currently updating their digital care system and have ensured that they can monitor health and social care needs of 50+ year old LGBT+ people.
In May 2023, Positive Steps submitted their action plan to SAND in which they state why they have signed up:
- To improve the service for older and old LGBT+ people with Learning Disabilities and Mental ill Health
- To ensure a safe and welcoming service for older and old LGBT+ people with Learning Disabilities and Mental ill Health
- To provide the skills to staff and Shared Lives carers to ensure support of sex positive relationships.
- For the staff to feel confident to challenge discrimination should it occur
- To uphold Article 8 The Right to a Private Life, of the Human Rights Act and create an inclusive environment for all
- To ensure Positive Steps Shropshire meet CQC standards and work in a person-centred way to meet the needs of people from all equality groups, for example Older and Old LGBTQ+ individuals
Qube
has started work on their action plan and implementation:
- Commissioning SAND training for staff members
- Ensuring equality and diversity is covered in staff policies
- Adding the work of SAND and the Covenant to their volunteer induction programme
- Outlining and working on an Action Plan for providing support of the Covenant commitment
- Reviewing and improving resources to ensure they are thorough and available to all
- Listing Qube as a ‘Safe Place’ in the community so people are aware Qube are open for them to feel safe and supported
In the future, Qube:
- will be adding SAND information to regular e-updates and staff and volunteer newsletters.
- will have a statement on their website to show commitment to the Covenant
- will be appointing champions of the Covenant who can speak on and highlight the importance of the programme
- will be seeking opportunities to incorporate the WAVE project into our 2024 exhibition schedule
Senior management will have a commitment to the ongoing support of the Covenant written into their job descriptions
Radfield Home Care (Shrewsbury & Oswestry)
Radfield is a home care provider, with additional specialism in care for the elderly with medication and dementia care needs.
Radfield has been connected with SAND for a long time in one way or another. Since signing the Covenant, Radfield has:
- commissioned training from SAND for 8 staff members
- committed to all key staff taking part in LGBT Awareness E-learning (this is not SAND’s training)
- completed the first EMBRACE Training for Facilitators programme for 2 members of staff
- started working on their Action Plan, looking both at LGBT+ clients and at recruiting carers from LGBT+ communities aged 50+.
- delivered a presentation at an In The Cafe session
- taken part on the panel for SAND’s Future-proofing event in October 2022.
Radfield has a visible commitment to the Covenant on their website
Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital
has signed up and we are looking forward to working with them
RJAH invited SAND to a promotional signing: Read more here
Since signing the Covenant in June 2023, the Trust has begun to roll out SAND LGBTQIA+ awareness training, and materials will shortly be available on the Trust’s intranet.
Despite being at the beginning of our SAND training roll-out, RJAH are optimistic that this training will make a real difference for patients, staff and volunteers. Members of staff have attended the training and have given feedback on the impact and structure of the change, and how they can make a difference to patient care and working with colleagues.
Additional training and awareness sessions were shared with all staff during September, with an additional take up of attendees
Roy Fletcher Centre
The Roy Fletcher Centre was opened in January 1997 to accommodate local charities and to benefit the people of Shrewsbury. It was built to realise the vision of its founder Roy Fletcher, builder and philanthropist, who wished to see the creation of just such a multi-purpose building for caring agencies in the town.
Safe Places Shropshire
a charity that supports vulnerable people to find a short-term safe haven. We are aware that anyone from the LGBT+ community may feel vulnerable when they are going about their day-to-day lives. Everyone needs to know that a Safe Place in our area will be a refuge to seek assistance.
- We are creating a working group to look at our Action Plan
- We are revising policies
- We are reviewing our website to include LGBTQ+ information
- We have nominated an EDI Lead
- We are incorporating the SAND logo on our website and email footers
- We aim to attend SAND awareness training
- We will be creating a feedback area on our website to allow users to share their views
- We are including LGBTQ+ work in our detailed completed action list
SaTH (Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals)
has signed up and we are looking forward to working with them. SAND was invited to an initial meeting to share ideas about such a big and complex organisation can fulfil its commitments under the Covenant. We met with an influential team, including the Directors of Nursing and Workforce and began formulating a plan.
Severn Hospice
has articulated why they wanted to signed up to the Covenant.
They say that they want:
- To improve access for all.
- To build trust in the local community.
- To create a more inclusive work environment.
- To improve communication.
- To establish partnerships which will maximise our influence.
- Staff and volunteers to feel confident in providing the service to marginalised groups.
- The organisation to be in a better position to influence change in policies and practices that are discriminatory to marginalised groups.
- Benchmarking ideas and good practice with professional peers outside our organisation.
- Services become more relevant to the communities we are serving.
Where we are now update (June 2023)
- Working group – Completed and finalised covenant sent to SAND May 2023
- Appointment of Community Engagement Lead in post since Jan 2023 on 2-year secondment. This post will raise hospice awareness and help to improve access for all communities. Community Engagement Lead will share our commitments with our seldom heard communities via engagement opportunities– This will be ongoing.
- The Community Engagement Lead will champion equality.
- Education – Community Engagement Lead and Education Lead to attend LGBT awareness training in June 2023 which will have a positive impact on raising awareness around LGBT community.
- LGBT awareness training has been completed by 3 Retail area managers.
- Awareness month – Pride month June 23 – email sent out to all staff to raise awareness and social media post published to let our community know that we are here for them.
- Electronic learning platform – All staff completed mandatory Equality, Diversity and Human Rights Level 1 E-Learning.
- They have a staff member booked onto Tranche 2 of the EMBRACE Facilitator Training, Autumn 2023.
Shrewsbury Homes for All (SHFA)
has signed up and submitted their action plan, with an appointed lead and timeline. Three of the team have taken part in SAND Training – including front line staff who deal first hand with initial contacts. Covenant logo has been added to their website.
Shrewsbury Primary Care Network (PCN)
has just signed up and we re looking forward to working with them over the coming months. Welcome aboard!
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Shrewsbury Town Council
has just signed up and we re looking forward to working with them over the coming months. Welcome aboard!
Shropshire Council
A huge and complex organisation, SAND has been working particularly with staff in Adult Social Care, Carers Support, Occupational Therapy Team, Leisure Services, Libraries and Social Prescribing.
Shropshire Council has:
- started work on its action plan.
- developed Terms of Reference for the working group established to implement the plan
- worked with SAND to provide exhibition space for The Wave Project
- taken part in the panel for SAND’s Future-proofing event in October 2022
- supported their Carers’ Support Team Coordinator to take part in the Training for Facilitators
SAND delivers LGBT+ Awareness training through the Council’s Joint Training programme
Two staff members are booked onto Tranche 2 of the EMBRACE Facilitator Training, Autumn 2023.
Shropshire Fire & Rescue
SAND delivered a half day LGBT+ Awareness training course to staff
Shropshire Recovery Partnership
WithYou is a drug, alcohol and mental health charity. With over 80 services across England and Scotland, we provide support and advice to more than 100,000 people a year. We’re working towards a future free from harm caused by alcohol, drug and mental health challenges, where anyone seeking help feels welcomed, not judged.
Our Shropshire offices are open Monday to Friday 09:00am – 5:00pm, we also have a webchat service. Through our online webchat service, you can speak to us about drugs, alcohol, or your mental health. Whether you need support for yourself or for someone you care about, we’re here for you, seven days a week. Our webchat service is available Monday – Friday, 09:00am – 9:00pm. Saturday and Sunday 10:00am – 4:00pm.
Shropshire Rural Support
Shropshire Rural Support signed the Covenant in October 2024.
Shropshire Supports Refugees
Shropshire Supports Refugees signed the Covenant in October 2024.
Telford & Wrekin Council
Telford & Wrekin Council signed the Covenant to EMBRACE a Culture of Inclusion in May 2024.
Telford & Wrekin CVS
Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service (Telford & Wrekin CVS) is a local charity that works to support and collaborate with communities in Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire for the benefit of all who live and work there. They say “We are all passionate about being inclusive and ensuring the best services possible to all who we meet“.
Since signing up to the Covenant, Telford and Wrekin CVS
- have started our action plan by first things first in commissioning SAND to deliver LGBT+ awareness training our staff
- ensure our services are accessible to members of the LGBT+ and particularly those that are family carers and provide them with information and support.
The Hive
has just signed the Covenant. We look forward to working with them over the coming months. Welcome aboard!
Welford Homecare / Morris Care
providing both home and residential care, signed up to the Covenant early in 2023 and have developed their Action Plan. A staff member took part in SAND’s LGBT+ Awareness Training in June 2023 and 2 staff members are booked onto Tranche 2 of the EMBRACE Facilitator Training, Autumn 2023.
They say: We are fairly new to introducing the Covenant and commitments we have made. As part of sharing our planned actions we have found that the managers are very interested and really want to be able to adopt any strategies they can to support and explore unmet needs with residents. We have seen many embrace this and plans to look at how we can support and care plan much more effectively with the individuals involvement in relation to any unmet needs they have been welcomed. Learning has already begun about how to have conversations and develop personalised care plans, whilst materials have also been shared and displayed in the homes, that SAND has made available.
West Mercia Police
West Mercia Police covers the counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and employs just over 4,000 people. There are two Local Policing Areas (LPA) in the county of Shropshire. Telford & Wrekin LPA & Shropshire LPA, which includes the towns of Shrewsbury, Ludlow, Bridgnorth, Oswestry and Market Drayton.
Historically, the relationship between the police and the LGBTQ+ community has been testing at times, but over the past 20 years, the force has evolved into a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive organisation, that actively supports its own LGBTQ+ staff and the communities it serves.
- We actively promote West Mercia Police as an inclusive employer of LGBTQ+ people.
- We have a well-established internal LGBT support network, made up of LGBTQ+ police officer, police staff and alleys of the community.
- We have in place a Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Strategy, which sets out the force’s objectives and expectations.
- We have a Chief Officer Lead for LGBTQ+
- We promote SAND as a trusted partner internally and share the contact details of SAND to victims of crime where appropriate.
- We actively promote the reporting of Hate Crime to the public and have a tailored campaign for the LGBTQ+ community.
- We provide diversity training to all staff and specific LGBT training on Hate Crime, Domestic Abuse, Vulnerability, and sexual offences.
- We operated an LGBT specific Independent Advisory Group (IAG) made up of volunteers from the community
- We are pleased to have part sponsored the 2024 SAND Conference.
Wrekin Housing Group
Wrekin provides over 13,000 homes for affordable rent and low cost home ownership across Shropshire, Staffordshire and Telford & Wrekin. They also deliver domiciliary care for the elderly, supported housing, as well as dementia nursing care.
Since signing up to the Covenant, Wrekin:
- has written and started implementing, their action plan.
- commissioned SAND to deliver LGBT+ awareness training to over 100 of their staff
- two staff members, in Learning & Development roles have taken part in the Training for Facilitators programme and are now delivering SAND training
- worked with SAND to provide space to deliver its facilitators training programme
- committed to delivering inclusion training to over 1,000 employees
- one member of staff is engaged in the SAND Action Group
- regularly review policies and the impact of those policies on the LGBT+ community
- their lead for the Covenant took part in our panel at the Future-proofing event
- have an proactive LGBT+ staff network group.
