Celebrating inclusivity at Certitude: our commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion and belonging

Developing an inclusive workplace is a key part of #EverydayLeadership. We hear from Pamela Sinnott, Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner, Certitude about some of the work they’ve done to support LGBTQ+ equality.

At Certitude, our guiding principle, "We are inclusive," permeates everything we do.

Supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues and the people we support is central to our mission of ensuring everyone feels welcome and free to be themselves.

With colleagues spread across London, often working in small homes with those we support, it has been crucial to establish a vibrant LGBTQ+ colleague network group, Pride@Certitude. This network enables LGBTQ+ colleagues to connect, share experiences, and support each other. Meeting virtually every eight weeks, the group checks in, plans events, and discusses current LGBTQ+ issues within Certitude and the broader society. These meetings are exclusively for colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+.

Pride@Certitude, like all our colleague networks, has a formal sponsor from the executive team, an agreed term of reference, and an annual plan aimed at increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ issues and promoting inclusion at Certitude. Network members have shared key blogs to mark annual events such as Pride, LGBTQ+ History Month, and Black Pride. These blogs cover a range of themes, including working with Pride@Certitude, coming out stories, and what Black Pride means to our ethnically diverse LGBTQ+ colleagues.

According to the last census, around 4% of Londoners identify as LGBTQ+, a statistic reflected in our data at Certitude. This highlights the importance of allyship for LGBTQ+ inclusion. While we may have 30 colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+, it is likely that 300 or more see themselves as allies. This year, we’re celebrating Pride Month with information on how to be a great LGBTQ+ ally and blogs from LGBTQ+ colleagues sharing their personal experiences of how allies in the workplace have positively impacted their sense of inclusion and ability to be themselves at work.

We recommend regularly checking your policies, to see if they’re inclusive of LGBTQ+ colleagues as well as including examples that help to put policies in context. For example, what does bullying and harassment look like in the context of LGBTQ+ issues? What is an example of inappropriate banter? With help and support from our LGBTQ+ network members, this year we also published our first Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion Policy.

Each year, our networks host at least two events, and our LGBTQ+ network events have been a big hit. These events are open to everyone at Certitude allowing many allies to get involved. This includes people we support, board members and our executive team. Past events have included an outing to the LGBTQ+ Museum, Queer Britain, as well as our favourite event - London’s Pride Parade. Together with peers from Choice Support and Rainbow Friends, we have a party of around 70 people walking in Europe’s biggest LGBTQ+ parade. Our virtual fireside chats are popular across all our networks and last year included a lively chat with Lynne Nichols, trustee of LGBTQ+ History Month, about ‘Why LGBTQ+ Heroes Matter’. This year, we’re planning an LGBTQ+ art tour at the Tate or National Portrait Gallery, which is free and always inspiring.

The best advice I can give organisations is to create an LGBTQ+ network group. If you are a small organisation, think about joining together with other social care providers to create a larger group. Host one or two events a year with a focus on LGBTQ+ issues, and invite people you support, your board and executive team to all events. Always think about intersectionality; many people have more than one protected characteristic (as defined by the equalities Act 2010) and may benefit from events and blogs which explore this, e.g. LGBTQ+ colleagues with disabilities, or Black gay or bisexual men.

Over the years, I’ve joined many Pride Parades around the world, but last year was my first with Certitude and Choice Support. It truly was the best, and this picture, which I often look at, captures joy and inclusion in action as people we support, board members, our CEO, and colleagues all came together for a day of Pride and celebration.

Find out more about allyship and being an inclusive leader with our #EverydayLeadership campaign.

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