Small Steps Big Difference success

In a positive step towards fostering inclusivity and understanding, local organisations, including Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, converged at the Small Steps Big Difference conference in October.

The event, which was hosted by Safe Ageing No Discrimination (SAND), marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing five-year EMBRACE A Culture of Inclusion project, which aims to improve the experiences of older and old lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT+) people accessing services in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

Organisations in the county that provide services to older and old people are invited to join SAND's Covenant, an innovative programme which encourages its members to commit to a series of pledges and develop straightforward action plans to make their services more inclusive.

The conference featured insightful presentations about the work that Covenant organisations have been doing. Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin’s Chief Executive, Heather Osborne, gave a joint talk with Citizens Advice Shropshire’s Jackie Jeffrey on making inclusion a golden thread that runs through their organisations. There were also interactive workshops, in which participants engaged in thoughtful discussions on the challenges faced by older and old LGBT+ people and explored innovative solutions to create a more inclusive environment.

One of the conference's noteworthy outcomes is the development of invaluable resources, which will include practical advice for smaller organisations and groups that aim to be more inclusive and plans to embed inclusive practice within the very fabric of our local area.

The success of the conference lies not only in the wealth of knowledge shared but also in the strengthened bonds among organisations seeking positive change. The shared commitment of organisations, both big and small, sends a powerful message, one that echoes our collective responsibility to ensure that aging is a dignified and inclusive experience for everyone.

To watch some of the presentations and highlights from the conference, visit the Small Steps Big Difference page of the SAND website.