Rainbow colours filled the streets of Manchester as Housing 21 residents and employees joined thousands of others to celebrate diversity and inclusion at this year’s Manchester Pride parade.
On Saturday 23 August, the group proudly waved from their brightly coloured float, made possible thanks to the generous support of local sponsorship partner, GOS Services. GOS is a family-run business with over 50 years of experience in the heating and plumbing sector.
The float, adorned with rainbow colours and carrying the message from leading Extra Care and Retirement Living provider – ‘At Housing 21, you can be you’ – proudly reflected the organisation’s Respect and Inclusion Charter which launched in 2023. The charter was developed to recognise the diversity of Housing 21 and to promote an inclusive environment in which to work and live.
Zoey Stanton, Regional Operations Manager for the north at Housing 21, took part in the parade and shared her enthusiasm: “This was a brilliant opportunity to raise our profile as an open and inclusive housing provider in Manchester. We had such a fantastic day, and we've got the bug now and want to come back and do it all again next year.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who made it possible, especially Debbie, a Local Housing Manager who manages one of our Retirement Living schemes in north Manchester.”
The annual event is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and allyship. Housing 21 aims to continue its journey of inclusion and hopes to make an even bigger splash at next year’s parade.
