“The Diversity Trust team prove there’s nothing performative about being more inclusive, and draws some interesting parallels to WATCH (and organisations like it). We *began* normalising things like mental health and loneliness through peer support years ago, and that judgement-free space has since grown to include other marginalised or struggling groups. Because people connecting over something you don’t always understand is not an attack, it’s an opportunity to celebrate (y)our differences and grow. Nobody is on trial for misspeaking or feeling different here, and I think the Trust does a wonderful job emphasising that. As cliche as it sounds: We are all in this together.

They also remind us why representation matters, and even if you don’t personally believe somebodies gender or sexuality is relevant to a conversation, we promise, someone close to you (at home or the office) will. Because something as simple as my He/Him could encourage a person to share they’re actually They/Them. And fixing that assumption reflects positively on us all.

“(In short: The Trust gave me lots to think about. Thank you so much! M@thew Barnes (He/Him) @ Chard WATCH”