SLC supported getting twenty young people from Bromsgrove Hub to give them the opportunity to attend Birmingham Pride.
Run by dedicated youth workers, supported by volunteers and shaped by the voices of young people, the Bromsgrove Hub provides safe and inclusive opportunities for people up to the age of 25 to grow, express themselves and build meaningful connections.
To make this happen, SLC provided lunch for the group, ensuring the young people could travel safely to and from the event and West Midlands Railway also supported to help the young people enjoy a memorable day centred on inclusion, celebration and community.
For many of the young people supported by the community space, attending an event such as Birmingham Pride can feel out of reach due to financial and social barriers, with some rarely having the opportunity to travel beyond Bromsgrove. The trip gave the young people the chance to experience a welcoming environment where diversity, identity and acceptance were celebrated openly.
A spokesperson for Bromsgrove Hub said: “As a small local charity we are so grateful for the support of compassionate businesses as it can make such a difference to the lives of the young people of Bromsgrove. We understand with a tough economic climate donating is not always easy to do, we are so thankful that you chose to.
“The support given for the Pride trip enabled us to create a beautiful experience and long lasting memories for the young people and the team. One of the young people aged 16, had never been on a train before! What a fantastic first experience that was supported with your help. Another has a fear of trains – particularly falling down the gap!
“We spent time working with them around this fear in advance of the trip, and they were able to overcome it and have a safe and fun filled day! Hopefully both of these young people will be happier and more likely to use trains as a transport method again in the future thanks to this opportunity. Once again, a huge thank you on behalf of the young people and team at the Hub for your support.”
Sam Uren, Director of SLC and a part time volunteer youth worker at Bromsgrove Hub, said: “At SLC we have worked and continue to support a number of infrastructure projects across Worcestershire, and I began volunteering with Bromsgrove Hub in 2022 because staying connected to our communities is central to what we do and working with young adults is a personal passion of mine.
“Through our Care by Design approach, we work with clients and stakeholders across rail and infrastructure projects to create community-centred solutions that promote inclusion, social equity and a genuine sense of belonging for everyone affected by those projects.
“Attending Birmingham Pride gave these young people the opportunity to experience something positive, inclusive and memorable. Experiences like this can be genuinely life-changing, and I’m proud that we have been able to work alongside our rail industry partners to make it possible.”
