Greenwich Hospital is delighted to award the Charity Fighting With Pride £78,272 over three years to fund outreach support across the LGBT+ Veterans Community.
Fighting With Pride was founded in 2020 to support the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ veterans, serving personnel and their families, particularly those impacted by the ban.
For individuals who served before the lifting of the ‘gay ban’ in January 2000, the Charity works to help them come to terms with their dismissal from service, ensuring they are not further disadvantaged because of their sexuality or gender identity, and to claim financial reparations from a fund being established by the Government.
The grant award will help fund the employment of a Community Team Manager and Veterans Community Worker to support the health and wellbeing of the LGBT+ Veterans Community and their families. They will help to build awareness and confidence in individuals, encouraging them and their families to reach out for support and signposting them to appropriate support agencies. The Charity also creates and encourages befriending opportunities to build community confidence and develop peer support.
In addition to addressing the immediate needs of veterans, a longer-term goal of Fighting With Pride is to restore the military covenant to ensure that former LGBT+ personnel are not only accepted but also remain an integral part of the military family.
Deirdre Mills, Director, Greenwich Hospital, said:
“We support the team at Fighting With Pride as they work to ensure those affected by the previous ban no longer face discrimination as a result of their sexuality, and their service is rightfully acknowledged.”
Caroline Paige MBE, Chief Executive of Fighting with Pride, said:
“We are working with veteran supporting organisations to build capacity for LGBT+ veteran support, to recognise their service and help resolve the challenges the veterans face in their lives beyond their military service. We are here to listen, understand and support people when they need it the most.”
