Vodafone supports LGBT+ inclusion in its workplaces as well as in the communities it serves.
Vodafone is a proud partner of UK Black Pride, supporting its goals of empowerment, unity and visibility for LGBT+ people of African, Arab, Asian and Caribbean heritage. UK Black Pride is the largest pride celebration of its kind in Europe, taking place in 2022 on August 14 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.
The last in-person UK Black Pride saw 10,000 people participate in a public cross-community celebration of diversity and unity.
Vodafone has a history of engagement with Pride events across the UK, as participants and spectators, with VOXI employees telling Vodafone UK News what Pride means to them. Vodafone LGBT+ employees have also been recognised for their leadership and mentorship activities, both inside and outside the company.
Belonging and purpose: Why Pride is more than just a parade
As the first LGBT+ events of summer 2022 start revving up, Vodafone employees explain what Pride means to them.
Internally, the company has a REACH strategy to weave racial equality and anti-racism into everything it does. It aims to do this through training, mentorship programmes and inclusion networks for employees as well as through its commitment to addressing the lack of representation across the organisation, and particularly in senior leadership. By 2025, Vodafone aims to have people from ethnically underrepresented backgrounds in 20% of senior UK management positions, 4% of whom will be black, more closely representing the customers and communities that we serve.
Lady Phyll, Co-founder and Executive Director of UK Black Pride said: “We are grateful to those who express power rooted in a firm belief that equality is not a pipe dream or a nice-to-have, and those who harness their power to positively impact the lives of those who have been left behind and forgotten. We honour the power our communities continue to wield to ensure that our communities are defended and supported, loved and protected.
“The world will continue to shift beneath our feet and we will continue fighting on uncertain terrain for our futures. And we will do this together, because our power is unique, beautiful and necessary. Our power will change the world.”
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