Tesco backs Pride

Rainbow celebrations were enjoyed by colleagues and customers at a series of special Pride fundraisers in Swindon’s Tesco Superstore.

The store was decorated in Pride balloons and flags to give the events a real festive feel, while music played and many colleagues dressed in their brightest clothes.

Donation points and sponsored activities around the store helped to raise £350 towards supporting LGBTQIA+ equality in the Swindon community.

This year's Swindon and Wiltshire Pride is on Saturday, August 12 at Queens Park.

The Tesco events were headed up by Joe Gale St George, the store’s diversity and inclusion champion, who was also the face of Pride Month on the Tesco website.

Joe said: “This is the second year of our store participating in Pride Month and it’s been a great success in raising money for Swindon Pride and in generating awareness among colleagues and customers. 

“As an employer, Tesco encourages everyone to bring their whole personality to work. This might not be something everyone may feel they can do, but at Tesco and our Swindon Extra store we have a platform to celebrate the diverse colleagues we have in store. 

“Pride Month is about celebrating our allies in store and very often these people will have family members who identify as LGBTQIA+, so it’s equally important that we celebrate Pride for all our colleagues. If you can’t see yourself in others, how can you grow?

“Whenever I see a Pride flag I feel safe and valid, so we have decided to fly the Pride flag instore all year round, not just for Pride Month. We want all our colleagues and customers to feel safe to be themselves in our stores, and I look forward to the next Pride Month.”

Shaun Sennett, store manager, said that Tesco Swindon was committed to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates the diversity of its colleagues and customers.

He added: “We mark Pride month every year, doing in-store fundraising to raise awareness and spread the message that diversity and inclusion in all walks of life is hugely important.

“I’m really proud of the team for getting behind us so enthusiastically, and we’re really grateful to all the customers who supported what we were doing and donated so generously.”

In addition to the fundraising Pride event, the store is part of Tesco’s Community Grants scheme, with people able to nominate or vote for a Swindon charitable organisation that would benefit from £500, £1,000 and £1,500.

The scheme has donated thousands of pounds to Swindon good causes in recent years. For further information about the Tesco Community Grants scheme, people should visit visit https://tescocommunitygrants.org.uk/