Team WAST attends Pride Cymru in Cardiff

STAFF and volunteers were flying the flag for the Welsh Ambulance Service at Saturday’s Pride Cymru celebrations in Cardiff.

Pride Cymru is the biggest celebration of equality, diversity and inclusion in Wales.

Tens of thousands of people attended the three-day event, with Saturday’s parade led by NHS Wales staff as a thank you for their work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The scale of the event meant that many roads were closed, bringing the Trust’s Cycle Response Unit centre stage to provide rapid response style support for the city centre.

During the parade, uniformed colleagues donned rainbow epaulettes, while corporate staff wore NHS Wales Pride t-shirts to show their support.

Keithley Wilkinson, the Trust’s Head of Equality and Engagement, said: “As the UK celebrates 50 years of the Pride movement, we at the Welsh Ambulance Service were very proud to be supporting the Pride Cymru event in Cardiff over the Bank Holiday weekend.

“We were there to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, individuality, respect and unity, not just across Cardiff but across all our communities that we serve.

“It’s also a great way to learn, have fun and celebrate our differences and diversity.

“At WAST, we are determined to provide an environment where everyone can be themselves and bring their ‘authentic self to work’, helping us better engage with the diverse communities and stakeholders that we work with every day.”

After the parade, the Trust’s off-duty staff, including volunteer first responders, spoke to the public, taught first aid skills and demonstrated CPR and how to use defibrillators.

Gareth Thomas, Patient Experience and Community Involvement Manager and WAST LGBT+ Network representative, said: “The Trust was honoured to be at the forefront of the parade, representing WAST and supporting our LGBTQ+ staff, volunteers, patients, and the people of Wales.

“The Pride ambulance prepared by the crew from Cardiff Ambulance Station, colourful face paint, flags, and a visit from the First Minister marked a very successful Pride event for Team WAST, one that we hope to be part of every year.”

Editors Notes

For more information, email Communications Officer Beth Eales at Beth.Eales@wales.nhs.uk or call Beth on 07870 383209