Celebrating Pride: a day of community at Dearnevale
Dearnevale recently hosted a colourful celebration to mark Pride Month, welcoming over 50 residents, colleagues, families, and friends to join in a day of music, creativity, and meaningful conversations.
In the lead up to the event, residents and colleagues worked together to bring their Pride celebration to life.
A community effort
Each unit at Dearnevale’s took part in an in-house competition, creating their own Pride flags and hats.
The resulting handmade designs were proudly displayed during the celebration, with Greenside Unit emerging as the winner.
Beyond the decorations, the event also incorporated Pride awareness and education sessions.
These provided an opportunity for powerful conversations about identity, acceptance, and what Pride means to each individual.
Music, laughter, and inclusion
The celebration featured a colourful Pride parade, where each unit showcased their creative designs.
A local singer also performed, who got everyone singing and dancing together.
Families and friends joined in, creating a lively atmosphere that reflected the celebration’s core message of love, respect, and inclusivity.
One resident, who experienced his very first Pride event, shared how meaningful the day was for him:
This is the first time I’ve felt fully accepted and supported – not just around my disability, but in being my authentic self.
“Celebrating Pride at Dearnevale has been an amazing experience. I’ve loved learning about its meaning and being part of the planning. It’s been great to see everything come together.”
Supporting identity and self-expression
Pride at Dearnevale isn’t just about one day – it reflects a year-round commitment to celebrating individuality and supporting people in living their most authentic lives.
Exemplar Health Care’s Sexuality Champions programme plays an integral role in this approach.
These trained colleagues provide a safe point of contact for conversations about sexuality and relationships, offering support to residents while also delivering training to colleagues.
This helps challenge perceptions about sex and disability, and ensures that everyone has the support they need to express their identity freely.
Helen McGowan, Dearnevale’s Home Manager, shared a heartwarming speech on the day:
“Our Pride event is about so much more than a single day. It’s a reflection of who we are as a home: a place where everyone is accepted, respected, and encouraged to be themselves.
“We work together to ensure that every person we support feels empowered, valued, and proud of who they are.
“This is embedded into everything we do as a team, focusing on holistic support that recognises the importance of emotional wellbeing and self-expression.”