Belong Crewe has rolled out the rainbow carpet once again for the third annual Silver Pride event. This year, the dementia care specialist was joined virtually by local charities for its celebration of diversity, inclusivity and LGBT+ culture especially for the over 55s.   

Coinciding with global Pride Month festivities throughout June, residents and apartment tenants at the Brookhouse Drive care village enjoyed a packed itinerary comprising the creation of personal rainbow sun catchers, learning about historic LGBT+ famous figures, sharing thoughts and life experiences, all before taking great pride in a group rendition of ‘Over the Rainbow’. 

Jess Butler, Belong Crewe’s experience coordinator, who led the event, commented: “We had a fantastic time celebrating Silver Pride. The village has become well known locally for the event and it was great to welcome, virtually, so many people – it was a wonderful day!”

Joining the colourful occasion was sexual health charity, Body Positive North Wales & Cheshire, and Silver Rainbows, the older people’s LGBT network in Cheshire, as well as sister care village, Belong Newcastle-under-Lyme. Working together, the aim was to educate and provide a safe space for everyone to feel comfortable with who they are. The celebrations form part of Belong’s wider approach to equality and promoting diversity, including specialist LGBT+ training for its colleagues. 

Jess Butler continued: “Many of our customers and older people in the community grew up in a time when homosexuality wasn’t legal in this country and so they may still find it difficult to express themselves, even in today’s society. It’s important to us at Belong that everyone can be proud to be themselves and have fun together and we look forward to more celebrations in the future.”