Children North East: Proud at PRIDE

As we get prepped to join Ouseburn Family Pride this weekend (rubber ducks at the ready!), we wanted to share this story of why these events are so important to our communities. 

In 2022, our teams took part in Northern PRIDE, which united over 30,000 people to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities, culture and heritage across our region. The day started with a very special moment shared with the PLUS (People Like Us) Group, a youth-led group for people under 19 who are wanting or needing support relating to their gender or sexuality, which Children North East hosts.  

Our team supported group members to march, commissioning a banner designed by the young people to carry, promoting the group and decorated with words they connect their experiences with PLUS such as ‘Safe Space’, ‘Self-acceptance’ and ‘Friendship’. For many it was the first time they had marched and, in an exciting turn of events, the leading groups of the march, officially appointed by organisers, invited PLUS to join them at the front.  

Children North East’s Quinn Stanger, who works closely with the PLUS Group and marched with them on the day commented, “It was a fantastic and emotional day seeing the young people proud and empowered to be themselves. Growing up in a heteronormative world, it can be challenging and upsetting ‘not fitting in’. Pride, and in particular the march, was an opportunity for our young people to be with many others who are ‘out and proud’ whilst seeing acceptance from the wider population. Alongside the weekly support from the group, it was affirmation they can be who they are and embrace their identity.” 

“It was affirmation they can be who they are and embrace their identity.”

We believe in our purpose of supporting every young person to grow up healthy and happy is only possible if we empower young people to be themselves. Northern PRIDE shares this ambition of supporting and championing LGTBQ+ young people by offering community, visibility and acceptance, which some may struggle to find in their daily lives. 

This highlights one reason PRIDE is such an important event for Children North East. We believe in our purpose of supporting every young person to grow up healthy and happy is only possible if we empower young people to be themselves. Northern PRIDE shares this ambition of supporting and championing LGTBQ+ young people by offering community, visibility and acceptance, which some may struggle to find in their daily lives. 

If you’re heading to Ouseburn Family Pride, come and say hello to the team!