About Us

Our Story

Hereford Pride started in early 2021 to give the Hereford LGBTQ+ community a place to celebrate together.

We are a diverse friendly group of people who meet-up regularly every week on a Friday starting at 5pm. For those that like a quiet atmosphere we start of at Coffee #1 for a drink and a chat. For those that like more of a livelier atmosphere and a stronger drink 😉 we head to the Grapes from 6pm where we just chat and chill with good company and occasionally good music. Some times we also go for food if the mood takes us. 

We also hold a lunch at the Living Room every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 12pm. This occasionally changes to the 3rd Wednesday of the month so to keep up to date keep an eye on our social media updates. Again this is just a nice atmosphere with good company and good food. As a bonus by joining us here were all supporting a local business 🙂

We hope to see you soon at one of the meet ups and you enjoy yourselves and most importantly you can be your wonderful selves :

Pride is not just a one-off day but about building community, creating a safe space and making friends. Everyone is welcome. Please come and join us – no pressure to do anything or say anything it will just be nice to have you with us.

Our Team

John Walker

Founding Director of Hereford Pride CIC John has been involved in LGBT+ issues since the 1990s and is the LGBT+ Officer for Herefordshire Unison Health Branch and Co-Chair of Wye Valley NHS Trust’s LGBT+ Staff Network.

Char Carter

Dean Goodwin-Evans

Bear O'Donnell

Hereford born poet and writer who has been performing in and around Hereford since they were 18.

Has a strong love and passion for working class LGBTQ+ causes and promotion and development of people from these backgrounds.

Gem Roberts

Producer-Gem Roberts

Events & Marketing Officer – Dean Goodwin Evans                                         

Safeguarding Officer – Ali Wells

Fundraising & Security – Char Carter

Website Manager- Xavier Hornsby

Treasurer- Bear O’Donnell

Administrator- John Walker 

Administrator and Volunteering Officer- Josh Selwyn

Social Media Officers- Kim and Tina Bailey 

Youth Outreach- Jo Child

Want to join the team?

Contact us

Hereford Pride C.I.C.

In order to deal with finance and administration we have set-up a community interest company – which is a not-for-profit organisation a bit like a charity. It is the small group which makes the decision and make sure everything we do is legal, appropriate and funded.

It has a duty to provide benefit to the LGBTQ+ community in Herefordshire and their allies. This will be done by:

  • (a) Raising awareness and education of the public about the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of LGBTQ+ people;
  • (b) Cultivating a sentiment of equality and diversity, and in particularly celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community;
  • (c) Connecting people to local support groups, creating and supporting new and existing support groups, to help support LGBTQ+ people at difficult or transitional periods in their lives;
  • (d) Extending the reach for providers of public services to interact with and understand the needs of LGBTQ+ people;
  • (e) To foster connections within the LGBTQ+ community through an annual Pride festival and smaller events;
  • (f) To foster connections within the LGBTQ+ community through media, social media and other technologies

A) Directors 

John Walker (Chair)

Dean Goodwin-Evans

Volunteer Treasurer – Alison Turner

Safeguarding Officer – Ali Wells

Company Secretary – John Walker

 

B) Policies and documents

Declaration of Forming Hereford Pride C.I.C.

Data Protection Policy

Data Protection Procedure

Safeguarding Policy (awaited)

Safeguarding Procedure (awaited)

Sponsorship Form

Georgia Pride Flag

LGBTQIA+ Consultation Group

It is really important to us that Hereford Pride has local LGBTQIA+ people at the very heart. We need to direct what we do and what sort of Pride we need.

We mustn’t be taken over by financial backers – commercial or public sector – they can help but it is our Pride not there’s. It also mustn’t be taken over by a small group or one section of the community.

The LGBTQIA+ Consultation Group is there to be a dominant voice for our Hereford Pride.

The Stakeholder Group

As a Community Interest Company there isn’t very much regulation (unlike an official charity) so we have a Stakeholder Group who we report to so that they can make sure that we continue to fulfil our aims and operate properly.

They include lots of public sector organisation such as the council, NHS, emergency services, etc. as well as charities and trade unions.

 

Policies and Documents