By Colin Dixon-Blair, East of England Co-op, Chief People Officer
Read time: approximately 4 minutes
Belonging is a fundamental part of what the Pride movement is all about. I feel a sense of belonging can be multifaceted when it comes to that human connection.
That feeling of being somewhere or walking into a room and thinking “I don’t quite fit in here” can be truly terrifying, I have felt it many times myself! Conversely when the environment is right... that sense and feeling of belonging can be very powerful indeed for individuals and communities alike..
Belonging can mean different things to different people such as:
- Feeling loved within your own family or your chosen family setting
- Knowing you are cared about and wanted within your friendship groups
- Feeling respected, supported and valued in the workplace
- Sharing traditions, experiences and culture within your communities or culture groups
For me personally, and when thinking about Pride specifically, belonging means being able to express myself openly without fear of judgement or consequence. It means feeling safe within my community and beyond, having family, friends and colleagues who respect and support me, and seeing people like me succeed in life and demonstrate that even in times of doubt, things can be okay.
There have certainly been moments in my life and career that I haven’t felt a sense of belonging.
I remember how my football teammates attitudes changed towards me when I came out as a gay man to the point that I had to walk away from doing something I truly loved (and was rather good at!).
Or being overlooked for a career opportunity, when diversity was explained to me as simply being either male or female, when it is far broader than simply that.
Those experiences stay with you, and they shape your understanding of why belonging matters.
As Chief People Officer, I believe all organisations have a role to play in creating environments where people feel they belong.
Organisations, regardless of size, type or stature, can play a huge part in creating a sense of belonging. Their cultures, systems, processes and structures shape people's daily experiences and the impact upon them. Leaders, of course, play a particularly important role shaping that oh so important environment that fosters belonging.
At East of England Co-op, this means:
- Culture and values – where we get these right and they are not just written statements; we create an environment where belonging is more likely.
- Policies and processes – that are built on fairness, high support and equity.
- Representation – people often feel a stronger sense of belonging when they see diversity throughout an organisation, including within its leadership.
- Opportunity for connection – having a safe, open and welcoming environment where people can be their true selves if of course, they choose to do so.
For leaders specifically I think we also have an important responsibility. We should all be mindful of the impact we have on others and the ways in which we can support people, whether through significant actions or small everyday moments.
That might mean publicly supporting inclusion, championing colleague networks, ensuring our policies foster belonging, or celebrating diversity in ways that are authentic and respectful.
As colleagues at our co-op, we can all make a difference too. Sometimes it's as simple as using the correct name or pronouns. Sometimes it's asking thoughtful questions rather than making assumptions.
For me, the ideal would be that we move towards a society where we no longer need awareness events because inclusion has become part of our everyday culture and way of being.
Pride means a lot to me personally; it has helped shape me into the individual I am today. I am extremely fortunate to have had life enriching relationships with some incredible people over the years both in a professional and personal capacity. From other LGBTQ+ people, to amazing allies, drag queens and many more in-between! Pride has given me a sense of community that I hold very dear.
As Pride Month comes around each year, I often see a question regularly asked in a derogatory way...
“Why do they need to have Pride, straight people don’t have one?”
I have a very straight forward answer to that question...
When it is illegal to simply be LGBTQ+ in many countries, when LGBTQ+ people are discriminated against daily or even worse attacked. When individuals feel so alone or anxious by the thought that simply being who they truly are is not an option for them. Those are exactly some of the reasons why we have Pride.
I am sometimes asked that question directly in person, I always end my response with
“Be thankful you don't need a Pride”
When it comes to our co-op, I would like all our LGBTQ+ colleagues, customers and members and communities that we serve to feel like this is a place where they are seen, heard, respected and have that genuine sense of belonging that we talk about.
A great example of this would be our partnership with the Colchester Kings East Anglia’s first inclusive rugby team. A group of passionate sports people who have found that sense of belonging and community, channelled into doing something they love, whilst creating a space where others can do the same (and becoming champions for the first time this year!)
As a co-op, community has always been part of who we are. We are at our best when people feel connected to one another and able to show up as themselves without fear of judgement.
We won’t always get everything right first time, and inclusion is never something you simply “complete”. It evolves as people, communities and society evolve too.
But I do think the willingness to listen to each other, learn from different perspectives and continue trying to create environments where people feel they belong genuinely matters.
For me, that’s what Pride is all about.
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