Meet the Team

“Congleton Pride was founded in the autumn of 2018 after I attended Macc Pride. It was the same day Richard Walton was leafleting for his political party. He knocked on my door, and I asked how we could set up our own Pride event in Congleton town centre. On the other end of town, a trans person who had attended Macc pride went to a local public house in Congleton and was met with transphobic and homophobic abuse. It was then I saw that we needed more than just an event. I set up an online public group which had over 200 likes in the space of 24 hours, and from there we set up our own committee.

Since then it has grown to become one of Congleton’s anticipated annual events – each year the Pride event gets bigger and bigger. With people from all over Britain coming to celebrate Pride in our small town, adding a new meaning to the slogan ‘a little town with a big heart’. Pride is not just an annual main event, but a community in its own entity. We intend to grow further, and the key part of Pride’s future is celebrating the community and the individuality and uniqueness of the people within it.”

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“I am a neurodiverse trans woman and have been living in Congleton for over 14 years and it was here that I was finally able to be my true self. I have found Congleton a warm and friendly place to live, but for some other trans and non-binary people that is not always the case. I joined Congleton Pride as a way to give back to the community and to make Congleton a better place for all. The rights that we have were hard won by the people that came before us and it is our responsibility to build upon and maintain these rights for those who follow after us.

Outside of Pride I am an analytical scientist and enjoy spending my time in with my family and many cats and dogs. Other interests include but not limited to fencing, amateur radio, history and crafting.”

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“I am pleased to say I was one of the founding members of Congleton Pride in 2018. I have been the group treasurer since we started, and have seen the group grow to such an extent, we have recently been awarded full Charitable Status with the Charities Commission. My job in Pride is to make other people’s dreams a reality, a facilitator if you like, ensuring we are always acting in a safe and compliant manner. This draws on my experience as a retail store manager for the last 30+ years

I have now helped ensure the Congleton Pride event is firmly embedded in the Congleton calendar, and having recently been elected as a Congleton Town Councillor, I can now ensure that the LGBTQIA+ community has a louder voice in the decision making process in our Town. I love Congleton Pride! Since joining, I have met some wonderful people who have opened my eyes to a diverse and wonderful community, who I treat as my second family. My only regret is I didn’t get involved in the LGBTQIA+ community sooner.”

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“I was born in Congleton, and it’s always been home. I’m married to Martin, have one grown-up daughter, and a mad labradoodle called Alice. I’ve worked in local government communications for over 20 years, including more than 10 years in children’s services, and I’ve always cared about making sure people feel included and treated with respect.

I got involved with Congleton Pride because I believe everyone should feel they belong – whoever they are and whoever they love. I’m proud to be an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community. For me, that means listening, learning, and using my voice to support others – not just during Pride, but all year round. I was brought up to be kind, to listen, and to stand up for others, and those values have stuck with me.

I love meeting people and being part of something that brings the town together. Pride is about celebrating difference, but it’s also about making sure people feel safe and supported every day of the year. I’m proud to play a small part in that.”

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“I joined Pride because I consider myself to be an LGBTQIA+ ally and abhor discrimination of any kind. I believe people deserve their best lives in Congleton regardless of their personal characteristics, and it is my personal mission to make this possible. I have helped Pride become a hate crime reporting centre and enabled closer links with the Police and local churches. I’ve been responsible for the Pride survey and I am using that to highlight the work we need to do in Congleton.”

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“I was early joining Congleton Pride – in its first few months – yet far too late in my life realising I was part of this community. I’m in this to help us work towards a world without the ignorance that made it impossible for me to know myself when I was growing up – unable even to think of the questions that I needed the answers to. I want everyone at every age to see positive role models for every kind of gender they might discover themselves to be. And all orientations and relationship configurations too. Free to explore the possibilities of how to live authentically as themselves, and safe doing so everywhere.

It’s been fun, educational and so satisfying working on graphic design, animation, website development and even building a video game, for Congleton Pride!”

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“I have been a supporter and friend of Pride since I first became aware of it. I love that Pride celebrates diversity. It strives to support, care for and advocate on behalf of people throughout the LGBTQIA+ community. It is an organisation that aims to be truly inclusive. I am proud to be the current Pride Wellbeing Officer. As such I aim to be a confidential listening ear, a voice to raise any issues that are important to people and to build a team of people to develop the wellbeing of people across the LGBTQIA+ community.”

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