Reading Pride 2021 - Call for volunteers

This year, we are thrilled to join Reading Pride – Love unites back in-person at Kings Meadow. Reading Pride will take place on Saturday 4th September 2021 from 12pm-7pm. We have booked our place and we would love for you to join us. Reading Pride has grown from a small gathering with a few tents into a glorious celebration of LGBT+ people and allies in the Reading community and beyond.  

We will be running a stall in the marketplace from 12pm and setting up from 11am. We want to show the local community what we have been doing for our LGBT+ staff and students as well as our plans for the future! We want to show how proud we are at the University of Reading to have a diverse workforce who are empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.  

We will need some volunteers to join us to run our stall and share experiences of our University with the local LGBT+ and ally community. You do not have to identify as LGBT+ as allies are most welcome! We predict the busy periods to be between 1pm-5pm and we will require extra people at those times, and please do bear this in mind if you would prefer a quieter time slot too.  

Please use this poll to inform us of your interest in supporting the stall on the day, and let us know when you can volunteer. 

About the LGBT+ Staff Network

At the University of Reading, the LGBT+ Staff Network have achieved so much in recent years in supporting the LGBT+ staff and student community. First establishing in 2014, LGBT+ is an inclusive staff support network for individuals identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and/or: other sexual and gender identities, such as asexual, non-binary, intersex or any identities. This includes LGBT+ people with multiple identities and covers all staff and PGR students based anywhere in the UK or Malaysia. The Network is supported by LGBT Plus Allies who were previously led by Gemma Fitz (The Network are recruiting too by the way! Check the roles out here).  

During the pandemic, which disproportionately affected LGBT+ individuals, the Network moved online in order to maintain the vital support and relationships it provides. In collaboration with the central Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) team, they continued to run events, including a virtual flag-raising ceremony in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBiT), and a digital LGBT+ book club with virtual sessions throughout the year.