Abi Vice Chair, My career has always been rooted in responsibility, coordination and people. As a Lead Project Manager in the energy and construction industry, I’m used to navigating complex environments, managing large teams and keeping projects moving even when the pressure is high. Working in this sector demands clarity, resilience and the ability to bring different groups together toward a shared goal. Those skills directly shape how I lead within Pride: steady, organised and committed to creating safe, structured spaces where everyone feels supported.

Before stepping into project management, I built my career in roles that were deeply community-facing. As an events manager in the North East, I learned how to design experiences that bring people together, celebrate identity, and create moments that matter.  Work within events taught me how to think on my feet, how to communicate with all kinds of people and how to turn ideas into reality skills that are essential when leading Pride, where logistics and emotion meet.

My time as a bar manager for Newcastle’s biggest gay club shaped me in a different but equally important way. That role wasn’t just about running a venue, it was about holding space for the LGBTQ+ community. I saw firsthand what it means for people to feel safe, welcomed and free to be themselves. Managing a queer space taught me how to lead with empathy, how to handle conflict with care and how to protect the people who rely on these environments.

Alongside my professional life, my personal feelings and volunteer roles have always pushed me toward community leadership. I know what it feels like to navigate identity, to face assumptions and to carry vulnerability. Those experiences don’t make me softer they make me more determined. They remind me why Pride matters, why visibility matters, and why leadership must be rooted in compassion as much as strategy.

All of this, the high-pressure coordination of project management, the creativity and people-focus of events work, the community protection of managing a queer venue, and my own lived experience shapes the leader I am today. I bring structure, empathy and authenticity. I lead with a clear head and a full heart. I am committed to making Pride a space where every person feels seen, safe, and celebrated.

I bring over 20 years of experience in the health and social care sector, with a strong professional focus on equality, person‑centred practice and inclusive service design. Holding a degree in Health and Social Care and a Bachelor’s degree in Mental Health, where I piloted innovative digital resources to support diverse communities.

My work includes developing the Let’s Talk About Sex Baby website, which provides accessible information on sexual health, relationships, contraception, and cultural perspectives, including content for same‑sex relationships and multiple faith backgrounds. This resource remains live and continues to support people seeking inclusive, non‑judgemental information.

I also piloted Men‑o‑Pause, a specialist app designed to support trans men experiencing menopause symptoms. The app was tailored to address both physical changes and the impact of body dysmorphia, offering guidance and reassurance for a group often overlooked in mainstream healthcare resources.

With 17 years of experience in healthcare management, I bring strong leadership, safeguarding knowledge, operational oversight and a deep understanding of how to design services that are safe, inclusive and responsive to individual needs. My expertise directly strengthens Scunthorpe Pride’s commitment to accessibility, wellbeing and community safety.

Leanne Trustee and Pride board Secretary but my main role is to promote our event, create the graphics, maintain the website and social media and get people to the event. Along with that I curate the stage line up and timings with help from the team. Day to day, I am an administrator within the industrial manufacturing industry and I have undertaken roles such as technical planning, SAP and weighbridge functions. 

But my main passion is my hobby, since 2013 I have voluntarily promoted the local area, posting events, supporting local arts, culture, music and reviewing. I have my own website and social media for this ongoing project and I have hosted many events, working with different venues, musicians, agents and promoters over the years.

From age 18, I was actively supporting my local LGBTQ+ community through groups and events but many years later this ultimately led me to finding the current pride team, a group of people who also have a shared passion and dedication for our community, pride and town, in turn they have also become my close friends and support network. 

All this combined with my years of PR experience, multimedia skills and planning has given me a main purpose within the team, as well as championing our town with everything I do. Our town needs unity and community and it’s there, it just needs an event like Pride to show that and bring those connections together. I’ve been to so many local events over the years and Scunthorpe Pride’s atmosphere for me is just unmatched in its overall feel, with the opportunity to connect with people and community in a safe and welcoming space. The biggest reward is seeing people at ease with themselves and those around them, making friends and feeling like they do have support there.

Charlie, trustee and the treasurer for Scunthorpe Pride. Day to day, I’ve been a PSHE and psychology teacher for 18 years, and I’m currently a curriculum leader managing my own departments and budgets. Alongside teaching, I am a part-time postgraduate researcher working toward my PhD, specializing in RSHE (Relationship, Sex, and Health Education). Outside of the classroom, I’ve also volunteered as a school governor at two different schools, which gave me the heavy-duty experience of scrutinizing educational budgets of up to £11million. All this financial experience means I can keep the charity compliant, organized, and financially safe behind the scenes.

But my real passion for this role comes from the young people I work with. At school, I run our LGBTQ+ club, and I see first-hand how heavily mental health struggles can compound for LGBTQ+ youth when they feel isolated. I’ve always felt incredibly passionate about making sure young queer people have a safe, welcoming space where they can just be exactly who they want to be without judgment.

For me, volunteering for Scunthorpe Pride is the ultimate extension of that work. Bringing together my years of financial governance, my academic research into RSHE, and my dedication to youth wellbeing gives me a clear purpose on the team. I want to help steer our charity so we can continue to create a space that fights isolation, lifts people up, and brings our town together. Scunthorpe needs that visible unity, and Pride is the perfect place to show that support is right here on our doorstep.

Simone, Pride board trustee and educator who works closely with disadvantaged and vulnerable young people, supporting them to feel seen, valued, and capable of achieving more than they ever thought possible. Being part of the Pride Team means a lot to me because I believe our town thrives when we come together celebrating who we are, lifting each other up and building a community where everyone feels they belong. I’m passionate about making our town a better, kinder, more connected place and I want to help create events and spaces that bring people together with pride and purpose.