Hospice aims for LGBT + Rainbow accreditation

Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust is working alongside Derbyshire LGBT+ towards Rainbow Accreditation to ensure inclusive practices to support its sta昀, patients, supporters, and visitors.

The hospice is committed to welcoming people from all backgrounds and walks of life to access services, fundraise, volunteer, or become a sta昀 member.

It’s recognised that historically people from LGBT+ communities have experienced discrimination and inequality in healthcare and at their workplaces.

Laura Savile, HR Manager at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, said: “We are committed to delivering services which are inclusive to all communities and have a hospice environment that’s safe and healthy for everyone

- sta昀, volunteers, supporters, patients, and their loved ones.

“The thorough Rainbow Accreditation framework gives us the opportunity to look at every department, volunteering, fundraising events, and our high street shops, to analyse gaps, identify obstacles and areas for development on our journey.

“We’re pleased to work with Derbyshire LGBT+ to achieve and embed inclusive practices at all levels of the hospice, including training for colleagues, using pronouns in email signatures and on lanyards, and liaising with local LGBT+ organisations to provide information about our services and volunteering opportunities.”

John Yates-Harold, Project Ocer at Derbyshire LGBT+, added: “We’re proud to work with the wonderful sta昀 at

Blythe House and Helen’s Trust who’ve joined a growing number of organisations as part of our accreditation scheme which ensures that LGBT+ communities have access to appropriate care and support from sta昀 who understand and appreciate the speci昀c needs of our communities. We’re very pleased to promote the work of Blythe House and Helen’s Trust and con昀dently signpost LGBT+ people to them for support.”

For more information about Blythe House and Helen’s Trust care, services, fundraising events, or volunteering, visit www. blythehousehospice.org.uk

To 昀nd out more about the accreditation programme, visit www.derbyshirelgbt.org.uk/ accreditation