As June arrives, so too does a month-long celebration of unity, identity, belonging and love – Pride. What began as a fight for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community has grown into something that is also about creating safe, welcoming spaces where people can come together in friendship, celebration and solidarity. It is a time to reflect on how far LGBTQIA+ rights have come, while also recognising that, in many places, there is still work to do. Although Pride is an important opportunity for LGBTQIA+ people to celebrate who they are, it is not only for them. Pride is for everyone – all cultures, all sexualities, all creeds, all genders and all ages – and it is a chance for people to stand proudly in who they are. At Support Staffordshire, inclusion and working towards equity for all are core values, so it feels only right to celebrate Pride and shine a light on one of our members, who is working hard to make sure people in their community can find a space where they truly belong.
Burton Pride is about far more than a one-day event. As a grassroots-led, community-driven organisation based in Burton upon Trent, it has grown from a simple idea into a visible and welcoming presence for LGBTQIA+ people and allies across the town. Built by the community, for the community, its work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and free to be themselves.
From a simple idea to a shared vision
Burton Pride began with a simple but powerful conversation. Founder Simon had been reflecting on what an inclusive local Pride event could look like for Burton-on-Trent when a passing comment turned into a challenge: if there was a gap in the town, why not create something to fill it? From that moment, a grassroots effort began to take shape, driven by determination, community connections and a clear sense of purpose. From the very beginning, the vision was never only about hosting a single annual celebration. It was about creating something lasting – something that would help people feel seen, safe and connected in their own town. Before long, that vision began to turn into action. Early plans for the first event included securing a public space, working with the council and putting in place the practical building blocks every new organisation needs, from event planning to risk assessments.
Like many community-led projects, the journey was not without its challenges. Initial venue plans had to change, and the team had to adapt quickly when their original location was no longer possible. With support from local contacts, the event moved to Shobnall Fields, where Burton Pride was able to hold its first Pride event after Burton Pride C.I.C. was established in February 2024. Those early hurdles helped shape the organisation’s character: flexible, resilient and deeply rooted in collaboration.
Powered by passion and perseverance
Like many grassroots groups, Burton Pride is powered by a small volunteer team balancing this work alongside full-time jobs, family life and other responsibilities. But what stands out most is not simply how much they do, but how much heart they bring to it. Behind every event, fundraiser, meeting and new idea is a group of people giving their time because they believe Burton should be a place where people feel welcome, accepted and able to be themselves. The team may be small, but the commitment behind it is immense. Together, they bring different lived experiences, strengths and perspectives, and that mix is part of what makes Burton Pride so special. Simon and Isaac bring the original vision and determination to get things started, while others like Olga, Cameron, Cirtine, and Jazz contribute practical organisation, community connections, fundraising support, creativity and the confidence to keep pushing things forward when challenges arise. Together, they have built something that reflects the values they want to see in the wider world: inclusion, teamwork, patience and acceptance.
More than a one-day event
Just as importantly, Burton Pride was built around a wider community mission. The team wanted to make sure local LGBTQIA+ people did not have to travel elsewhere simply to feel accepted or celebrated. In a town where many people had previously looked to nearby cities for that sense of belonging, Burton Pride set out to create visible, welcoming spaces closer to home. That is why the organisation has focused not only on the main Pride event, but also on regular social meet-ups, quieter accessible spaces and community activity throughout the year. At its heart, Burton Pride grew out of a belief that Pride should be about more than one day. It should be about building connection, encouraging self-acceptance, celebrating difference and making sure people know there is a place for them in Burton all year round.
A window of hope across Burton
In Burton-on-Trent, Burton Pride C.I.C.’s Window of Hope Competition 2026 is showing how small, thoughtful actions can help people feel seen, welcomed and connected. Taking place in shop windows and shared public spaces across the town, the competition is about far more than colourful displays. At its heart, it is a community-led way of showing that inclusion, kindness and belonging matter.
The idea is simple. Local shops, organisations and businesses are invited to decorate their windows or displays in a rainbow theme, bringing colour and creativity to the high street. But behind that simplicity sits a powerful message: that Burton is a place where diversity is valued, difference is welcomed and people should feel able to be themselves.
For many people, visibility cannot be taken for granted. Seeing a rainbow displayed proudly in an everyday place may seem like a small thing, but it can mean a great deal. For someone questioning who they are, for someone who has spent years feeling unseen, or for someone simply looking for a sign that they are accepted, those windows can offer reassurance and hope.
What makes the competition especially meaningful is the role local businesses can play. Shops and organisations are part of the everyday life of a town, and when they choose to take part, they help create a more visible culture of welcome and acceptance in the places people already know and trust.
That kind of participation matters. It helps show customers and residents that inclusion is not just something spoken about behind closed doors, but something that can be expressed openly and positively in the heart of the community. Each display will reflect the personality of the people behind it. Some may be bright and bold; others quieter and more thoughtful, but together they will help create a shared picture of hope across Burton’s high street.
As people move through the town and notice these windows, they may also find themselves starting conversations. The displays can spark curiosity, encourage reflection and open up gentle, everyday moments of connection between friends, families, colleagues and neighbours.
At its heart, the competition is about connection. It brings together people who may not otherwise work alongside one another and, in doing so, helps strengthen a sense of shared purpose, pride and mutual respect across the community.
Hope does not always arrive in big gestures. Sometimes it is found in a decorated shop window, in a familiar place made to feel more welcoming, or in the simple knowledge that your town is trying to show you that you belong. That is what makes the Window of Hope so powerful.
In the end, the true impact of the competition will not be measured by prizes or votes, but by the conversations it starts, the reassurance it offers and the sense of belonging it helps to grow. Through something as everyday as a shop window, Burton Pride is helping to show that hope can be made visible, and that communities can become stronger when people feel seen and supported.
Creating space for everyone
Inclusion sits at the heart of everything Burton Pride does. While the organisation exists to champion and uplift LGBTQIA+ people, its message reaches wider too: Pride is for everyone who believes in equality, compassion and the freedom to be yourself. That sense of openness came through clearly in the team’s reflections, particularly in the reminder that Pride is not only for LGBTQIA+ people, but also for allies, families and anyone who wants to celebrate a community where difference is welcomed rather than hidden. As one conversation in the interview put it so simply, Pride is about showing that “it’s okay to be who you are.”
The team is also thoughtful about accessibility, working to create welcoming environments for neurodivergent and disabled people, including quieter social spaces and sensory resources. Their planned community hub and regular socials are part of that wider vision: not just a one-day celebration, but an ongoing local presence where people can find support, connection and visibility closer to home. That matters, especially for people who may not want to travel to larger cities to feel accepted, or who need spaces that are calmer, more familiar or easier to access. Burton Pride’s open and inclusive approach reflects a simple but powerful belief: community is strongest when more people can take part and feel they belong.
By creating spaces that are visible, welcoming and shaped around people’s different needs and experiences, Burton Pride is helping to build a town where more people can feel seen, supported and proud to be themselves.
A trusted ally on the journey
As Burton Pride has grown, Support Staffordshire has played an important role in helping the organisation build confidence, strengthen its foundations and keep moving forward. For a small volunteer-led group balancing this work alongside full-time jobs and everyday life, that support has made a real difference. The team spoke openly about how challenging it can be to set up a C.I.C., navigate paperwork and work out the practical steps needed to grow, especially while also planning events, applying for funding and trying to meet the needs of the community.
In those early stages, having somewhere to turn mattered. Support Staffordshire’s Sharon Wright offered advice, encouragement and practical guidance around membership and organisational development, helping the team feel supported as they found their feet. As one of the team reflected, “Even as a non-full member, we still get a lot of support from Support Staffordshire,” which says a great deal about the value of feeling welcomed before everything is fully in place.
That sense of support has extended beyond one-to-one conversations. Through forums, training and wider networking opportunities, Burton Pride has been able to connect with other organisations, learn from shared experiences and feel part of a wider voluntary and community sector in Staffordshire. For a grassroots group still learning as they go, those opportunities have brought not only useful knowledge, but reassurance too. The team spoke positively about training sessions that gave them space to reflect, ask questions and hear different perspectives, helping them build both skills and confidence.
Alongside that, Support Staffordshire has also helped in practical ways that have had a direct impact on what Burton Pride can offer locally. Helping secure a Small Spark’s Grant from Staffordshire County Council has enabled the group to cover essentials such as insurance, while also allowing them to buy sensory resources to make their social spaces more welcoming for neurodivergent people. Those details may seem small from the outside, but for a young organisation trying to create accessible, inclusive spaces, they matter enormously. For Burton Pride, Support Staffordshire’s support has been about more than solving individual problems. It has helped create a sense that they are part of something bigger: a wider network of people and organisations who want local groups to thrive. That encouragement, alongside practical help, has given Burton Pride more confidence to keep building something meaningful for their community in Burton.
Looking ahead with hope, love, unity and pride
At its core, Burton Pride is about visibility, celebration, solidarity and protest. Pride has always been more than a party. It was born from people standing up, demanding change and refusing to be hidden, and Burton Pride believes it must always stay connected to those roots while creating joyful moments that bring people together. It is about celebrating who people are, while also speaking out against hate, inequality and discrimination.
That vision will come to life again at this year’s Burton Pride event on Friday 27 June, when the organisation returns with its second Pride celebration in the town. Organised by a small volunteer team and supported through sponsorship, donations and fundraising, the event reflects months of work behind the scenes, as well as a deep commitment to making sure local LGBTQIA+ people have a space where they can feel seen, supported and proud to be themselves. Burton Pride’s mission is to stand firmly alongside the LGBTQIA+ community, especially during challenging times, and to offer reassurance, visibility and belonging when conversations around rights, policies and protections can leave people feeling uncertain about the future. Proudly grassroots-led and rooted in the local community, Burton Pride is built from the ground up by people who care. It is not shaped by big corporations, but by local volunteers, supporters, sponsors and community members who believe Burton deserves a Pride that is honest, community-led and true to its roots. As Burton Pride continues to grow, it is helping to shape Burton upon Trent into a place where inclusion is not just talked about, but felt – in community spaces, in shared experiences and in the everyday acts of welcome that remind people they belong.
In a world where division and hate can feel loud, Burton Pride stands as a powerful reminder that love, unity and community still matter deeply. By bringing people together to celebrate all kinds of love, while standing side by side with the community in support of equality, dignity and fairness, the organisation is helping to grow connection, belonging and hope across the town. It is a celebration, but it is also a statement – that everyone deserves to be seen, valued and welcomed exactly as they are, and that no one should be pushed back into silence. And perhaps that is the most powerful message of all: when people come together with compassion, pride and acceptance, love does more than speak back to hate – it rises above it. Love will win.
To find out more about Burton Pride, upcoming events and ways to get involved or support, visit www.burtonpride.co.uk
