OUR PRIDE PROMISE
Young Lives vs Cancer supports Pride. For children and young people with cancer, for all of Team Young Lives and for the wider LGBTQIA+ community, we will use our power to promote equity for all.
We see Pride month as an opportunity for us to reflect on our progress of LGBTQIA+ inclusion at Young Lives vs Cancer.
WHAT IS PRIDE?
June is Pride month, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ communities around the world. This includes those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Intersex or Asexual. It celebrates equity, visibility and community, whatever your gender identity or sexual orientation may be. Pride is also an opportunity to honour the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement, and highlight the ongoing fight for rights and inclusion.
Hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ people are rising at a shocking rate, with three in five LGBTQIA+ people experiencing hate crime, but only one in five being able to access any support. Sadly, the institutions in society that should protect these communities often actively produce harm or are complicit through silence.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
We recognise our responsibility in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. We exist to help children and young people with cancer, which means we exist to help LGBTQIA+ young people and their families. All children and young people with cancer and their families should have the same opportunities as anyone else.
Unfortunately, we know many within these communities may face extra challenges and complexities during cancer treatment and we’re here to help them every step of the way.
We’re committed to being a charity that truly embraces diversity and is inclusive of everyone. From staff and volunteers, to supporters and young people with cancer and their families, we aim to be an organisation where everyone feels they belong.
Therefore, it’s important we talk and take action on LGBTQIA+ inclusion all year around. We see Pride month as a timely opportunity to reflect on our progress, to revaluate and realign our approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ communities.
MOVING FORWARD
We’re committed to continuing to develop the knowledge and allyship of our staff and volunteers around supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. With this activity we’ll be able to better support the young people and families that we exist for, as well as better support each other within our incredible teams who make all we do possible.
FOR OUR TEAMS
For our teams, we want to create space to hold honest conversations about the issues that affect fellow LGBTQIA+ staff and volunteers in the workplace. This includes taking time to better understand the barriers faced via our systems, policies and processes. As part of our wider Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, we devote time and space to defining what a healthy and supportive work environment looks like for all in Team Young Lives and commit to making that a reality. Our LGBTQIA+ Staff Equality Network also provides a space for LGBTQIA+ members of our team to come together in solidarity and to engage meaningfully with this critical activity.
FOR LGBTQIA+ YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES
Our promise to the children and young people with cancer and their families is to listen to what challenges those from LGBTQIA+ communities face and work hard to support them with these. In addition, we’ll share our platforms for people to tell their stories authentically and with integrity, shining a light on key issues affecting the young LGBTQIA+ cancer community.
If you’d like to share your voice and help make change for other young cancer patients and their families, you could join our Voice Hub or our Voice Board. The Voice Board is made up of six young people and six parents with lived experience of cancer who inform and shape the decisions our Trustees make, both within Young Lives vs Cancer and also on how we influence the wider system.
Later this year in 2024 we’ll be recruiting for additional Voice Board Members to join us and help to create positive change based on the experiences of those we’re here to support. If you’re interested in this upcoming opportunity, you can find out more about our Voice Board or contact our friendly Voice Team: voice@younglivesvscancer.org.uk
We’re taking accountability for our part in the system, and using our power and influence to promote equity for all.
* You can find statistics on hate crime and discrimination in Galop’s Hate Crime Report from 2021: https://galop.org.uk/hate-crime-report-2021/
OUR PRIDE PROMISE
Young Lives vs Cancer supports Pride. For children and young people with cancer, for all of Team Young Lives and for the wider LGBTQIA+ community, we will use our power to promote equity for all.
We see Pride month as an opportunity for us to reflect on our progress of LGBTQIA+ inclusion at Young Lives vs Cancer.
WHAT IS PRIDE?
June is Pride month, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQIA+ communities around the world. This includes those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer, Intersex or Asexual. It celebrates equity, visibility and community, whatever your gender identity or sexual orientation may be. Pride is also an opportunity to honour the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement, and highlight the ongoing fight for rights and inclusion.
Hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ people are rising at a shocking rate, with three in five LGBTQIA+ people experiencing hate crime, but only one in five being able to access any support. Sadly, the institutions in society that should protect these communities often actively produce harm or are complicit through silence.
OUR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY
We recognise our responsibility in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. We exist to help children and young people with cancer, which means we exist to help LGBTQIA+ young people and their families. All children and young people with cancer and their families should have the same opportunities as anyone else.
Unfortunately, we know many within these communities may face extra challenges and complexities during cancer treatment and we’re here to help them every step of the way.
We’re committed to being a charity that truly embraces diversity and is inclusive of everyone. From staff and volunteers, to supporters and young people with cancer and their families, we aim to be an organisation where everyone feels they belong.
Therefore, it’s important we talk and take action on LGBTQIA+ inclusion all year around. We see Pride month as a timely opportunity to reflect on our progress, to revaluate and realign our approach to LGBTQIA+ inclusion, and to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ communities.
MOVING FORWARD
We’re committed to continuing to develop the knowledge and allyship of our staff and volunteers around supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. With this activity we’ll be able to better support the young people and families that we exist for, as well as better support each other within our incredible teams who make all we do possible.
FOR OUR TEAMS
For our teams, we want to create space to hold honest conversations about the issues that affect fellow LGBTQIA+ staff and volunteers in the workplace. This includes taking time to better understand the barriers faced via our systems, policies and processes. As part of our wider Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy, we devote time and space to defining what a healthy and supportive work environment looks like for all in Team Young Lives and commit to making that a reality. Our LGBTQIA+ Staff Equality Network also provides a space for LGBTQIA+ members of our team to come together in solidarity and to engage meaningfully with this critical activity.
FOR LGBTQIA+ YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES
Our promise to the children and young people with cancer and their families is to listen to what challenges those from LGBTQIA+ communities face and work hard to support them with these. In addition, we’ll share our platforms for people to tell their stories authentically and with integrity, shining a light on key issues affecting the young LGBTQIA+ cancer community.
If you’d like to share your voice and help make change for other young cancer patients and their families, you could join our Voice Hub or our Voice Board. The Voice Board is made up of six young people and six parents with lived experience of cancer who inform and shape the decisions our Trustees make, both within Young Lives vs Cancer and also on how we influence the wider system.
Later this year in 2024 we’ll be recruiting for additional Voice Board Members to join us and help to create positive change based on the experiences of those we’re here to support. If you’re interested in this upcoming opportunity, you can find out more about our Voice Board or contact our friendly Voice Team: voice@younglivesvscancer.org.uk
We’re taking accountability for our part in the system, and using our power and influence to promote equity for all.
* You can find statistics on hate crime and discrimination in Galop’s Hate Crime Report from 2021: https://galop.org.uk/hate-crime-report-2021/
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
Our Pride Promise is a key part of our wider Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging strategy.
With this as a guide, we aim to make a brave and powerful leap into changing our culture for good.