Hospice News

Shops Stories

We believe in providing end of life care for all, for free, forever. We care for people from all backgrounds and we want everyone to have an experience that is as comfortable as possible, where their needs are recognised and respected. This includes people who identify as LGBTQ+.

Why are we celebrating Pride in our shops?

We celebrate Pride in our shops as we want people to know that whoever they are, they are welcome at St Peter's Hospice. Whether that's in our shops, at a fundraising event, when using one of our many Hospice services, or when visiting a loved one. We are proud to be by the side of everyone in our community.

Bristol Pride is a major city-wide event and we have shops in every corner of our community. Shops that serve and represent everyone. So it's important for us to be part of this celebration alongside many other local organisations. We've got a fabulous range of pre-loved festival-wear, perfect for helping people look and feel their best at Pride.

What are we doing to support equal access for LGBTQ+ people at the Hospice?

• All staff can access online training in LGBTQ+ inclusive palliative and end of life care, LGBTQ+ inclusion and allyship

• We're carrying out an Equality Impact Assessment which will help us identify and then address any adverse impacts on the LGBTQ+ community. We're doing this across all areas of the Hospice, from care the care we give to the way we raise money

• Pronoun badges are available to all Hospice staff and visitors upon arrival, to wear if they wish. A visible marker of LGBTQ+ allyship and a way for patients and visitors to feel safe and welcome

• For our Transgender and gender diverse colleagues, we're developing our Trans Inclusion statement, and developing guidance on transitioning at work. Our ED&I strategy and policy work is ongoing. We are constantly learning from patients, staff and other organisations to continue improving our what we do and supporting the people we serve.

In line with our aim to put communities at the heart of our work, we are excited to have a stall in the Community Area at this year's Bristol Pride on 11 July. Last year was the first year we had a presence in the Community Tent and the day was a huge success. We spoke to hundreds of people about how we support patients and their families from all backgrounds and we want to continue to build connections with local LGBTQ+ people. We hope to continue increasing awareness of the services we offer year-round, during Pride season and beyond.