SAND – Safe Ageing No Discrimination – is a community organisation which aims to improve the experiences and increase the expectations of LGBT+ people as they age in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Coverage Care has had a long relationship with Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND), and our previous CEO was a bit of a pioneer in the development of the business planning that sat behind SAND’s successful Lottery Bid to Embrace a Culture of Inclusion.
Coverage Care continues the legacy working in partnership with SAND recognising we needed to be more active in our support and recognition of people’s life choices and diversity.
We signed up to the SAND covenant committing to the 5 pledges as a starting point to achieve greater awareness and inclusion of LGBTQ+ in all our services.
The covenant includes five key pledges:
- Commit to providing the best possible quality services for older and old LGBT+ people
- Commit to learning what life can be – and has been – like for different LGBT+ people
- Commit to vocally and visually supporting groups working with and for older and old LGBT+ people
- Commit to creating meaningful opportunities for LGBT+ people and groups to ‘influence’ what you do
- Commit to assess and evidence change, including work carried out to engage LGBT+ people (within the group/organisation and outside it)
We have introduced LGBTQ+ Champions in the homes; they are identified by the LGBTQ+ flag badges that they wear. It is their role to raise awareness with residents and staff and to facilitate events throughout the year. The champions have been pivotal in our transformation as an organisation.
We have agreed to focus on education and awareness starting with: LGBTQ+ history week, understanding language associated with the LGBTQ+ community and to hold events to celebrate Pride month.
We have supported Skills for Care and SAND by sharing our experience of meeting the 5 pledges through promotional videos and attending SAND’s annual celebration event in 2023.
Our aim is to ensure everyone is empowered to be themselves and live their best life in our services.
How Coverage Care, became the first care provider to become involved with SAND |
Coverage Care’s SAND journey so far |
