THEGAYUK

Tag: Cheshire News

Get the latest LGBT+ Cheshire news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Cheshire in the UK.

  • AJ Pritchard and brother hospitalised after unprovoked attack

    Strictly Come Dancing star AJ Pritchard and his brother have been hospitalised after an attack at a Cheshire nightclub.

    AJ Pritchard is recovering after he and his brother were attacked in a Cheshire nightclub. The pair were enjoying a night out with friends when the unprovoked attack, by up to eight men happened.

    AJ was left with severe bruising and cuts. His brother Curtis, who is also a professional dancer is undergoing an emergency operation on his knee. Curtis stars in the Irish version of Dancing With The Stars.

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    A spokesperson for the brothers told The Sun: “AJ and Curtis were assaulted in an unprovoked attack. Curtis is to undergo an emergency operation to correct damage to his knee. AJ received bruising to his face, arms, body and legs.”

    According to the Sun, one witness to the events said,

    “The brothers were having a relaxed evening with friends and AJ was posing for selfies with a few fans.

    “But the eight lads took a disliking to the brothers and pushed Curtis hard. Then they started punching them, like they were possessed.

    “Curtis had fallen to his knees and was being punched in the face and body. They were also punching AJ in his face, in his ribs and legs. AJ dragged Curtis out of the circle and pulled him to another part of the club.

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    Police in Cheshire said, “The four victims were taken to hospital for treatment. All have since been discharged.

    “Officers arrested a 20-year-old man from Crewe on suspicion of assault. He has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.”

     

  • Cheshire’s fire service among top LGBT employers

    Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating after once again making it into Stonewall’s annual list of the UK’s top 100 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) friendly employers.

    After making the Top100 of the Workplace Equality Index for the first time in 2013, the Service increased its ranking by 20 places, achieving the 25th slot and placing it in the top quarter of organisations.

    Deputy Chair of the Fire Authority, Cllr Stef Nelson said: “Making the Top100 for a second year is something we are incredibly proud of. It demonstrates that the culture of the fire and rescue service is changing for the better. We are totally committed to getting the most out of every single member of staff and developing an inclusive working environment where our staff feel valued regardless of their background or sexual orientation”.

    Stonewall is a national organisation that works to achieve equality for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people. The Index has been running for ten years and is seen as the definitive benchmark for gay-friendly employers.

    Nearly 400 organisations entered the 2014 Index, including some of the UK’s (and the world’s) largest and most successful firms. The Service was the joint-highest scoring organisation based solely in the North West.

    The Workplace Equality Index provides an audit for workplace culture and ranks the top employers for LGBT staff through a 25-question evidenced assessment, focussed on the approach and mechanisms for supporting LGBT employees, customers and communities.

    Chief Fire Office Paul Hancock, who is the senior sponsor of the Service’s LGBT staff network, added: “I am delighted that our organisation has again improved its placing in Stonewall’s Top 100 this year. It reflects the hard work invested by our staff and volunteers, not only in ensuring that our people can perform at their best and be themselves, but also so that LGBT people across Cheshire know that we are here to support them. Our aim is always to deliver an excellent fire and rescue service and to do that we need people from every background.”

    Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has an active LGBT employee network group, Firepride, which has once again been accredited as a ‘Star Performing Network’. This means that it has been recognised as ‘making an invaluable contribution to the experience of LGBT staff in the organisation and beyond’.

  • Taking Pride In Team Cheshire

    Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service is an organisation on a mission – determined to continue breaking down the stereotypes that have haunted its past in a bid to create a more diverse future.

    Matt Maguire is the Service’s Policy and Research Manager as well as being the current Chair of Firepride, the organisation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans staff network.

    “Many people still retain quite an outdated image of what a modern day fire and rescue service is all about,” explains Matt. “We have worked really hard over the past few years both internally with our staff and externally within communities to change some of the stereotypes in order to break down barriers and create a much more inclusive working environment.”

    The work that has gone on within the Service is reaping some great results. This year saw the organisation make it into the list of the top 100 organisations in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index. Stonewall also heralded the Service as the North West’s Most Improved Employer after it climbed 101 places to claim the 45th slot.

    “This was a really great achievement and something we are proud of, however, more than that, it has instilled a real drive across the organisation to build on what we have achieved,” adds Matt. “We are totally committed to developing an inclusive working environment where our staff feel valued regardless of their background or sexual orientation. Our aim is always to deliver an excellent fire and rescue service, ensuring that the communities of Cheshire remain safe. This is best achieved when staff feel supported and can be themselves at work.”

    The Service was praised for its LGBT employee network group, Firepride, which was the only fire and rescue service group to have been accredited as a ‘Star Performing Network’ and its ‘Straight Allies’ programme, which promotes a more open workplace culture.

    Matt explains the impact that the latter initiative is having on the wider organisation,

    “The Straight Allies’ programme is a really interesting initiative that I am delighted to say has already delivered fantastic support. It was set up as a means of engaging people from all areas of the organisation and showing out LGBT staff that they were not alone – that they had a network of people here who wanted to support them and create an organisation that values everyone regardless of their sexual orientation.”

    A database of Allies is readily available on the Service intranet where every member is profiled. Each profile includes contact details and a quote outlining why the individual is involved.

    Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service has, like many other public sector organisations, got some testing times ahead. However, it is convinced that its ‘team Cheshire’ ethos and its commitment to valuing the diversity of its workforce will be at the forefront of seeing it through these difficult times.