Brighton & Hove Pride: South East Coast Ambulance Service prepare for busy weekend

The SECAmb team at last year's Brighton & Hove Pride

Last year across the Pride weekend the service handled 4,700 calls across its region.

Operating unit manager for Brighton, Tim Fellows said: “Pride is a great event for the whole city but it’s also a very busy weekend for staff and volunteers as they work hard to provide people with the help they need.

“I would urge people to help us manage demand by being sensible and looking out for each other. We’re asking people to act responsibly so that they don’t find themselves or others they’re with requiring an ambulance for something which could have been avoided.”

This year, more than 100 staff and volunteers are expected to walk together in the parade on Saturday alongside a specially-wrapped ambulance featuring a unique Pride design, sponsored by the local Unison branch and Optima Health and designed by local company, Chilli Graphics.

The Trust is also welcoming representatives from all of England’s ambulance services as well as colleagues from other NHS trusts.

Acting chairman of the Pride in SECAmb staff network, Steph Meech, said: “We’re expecting another good turnout for the Pride parade. It’s always very humbling to see so many people turn out to cheer and support staff. We’re very proud of everyone who works for SECAmb and this is a great opportunity to celebrate diversity.”

SECAmb, which will host the National Ambulance LGBT Network at its HQ in Crawley the day before, also had a strong presence at the annual Trans Pride event at Brunswick Square in Hove on July 20.

The event followed on from a well-attended Trans Awareness session that was held at the Trust’s Crawley HQ in Crawley on Friday, July 19.

Pride in SECAmb was recently recognised by being shortlisted in the employee network group category at the annual enei (Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion) awards which took place earlier this month.

The awards also saw the Trust awarded a silver enei Talent, Inclusion and Diversity Benchmark for the second year running.