This Pride Month, our Content Producer and Internal Communications Co-ordinator Jamie reflects on his journey to bring his whole self to work by helping to set up Wellbeing Coaches and an LGBTQI+ Network at SeeAbility.

Where it all started… 

I’ve been working with SeeAbility for 3 years now. During the pandemic I was redeployed from an activity centre to one of the residential homes in Leatherhead. During this time, I reflected on who I was and what my role is/could be at SeeAbility.   

I had been supporting people and working with my colleagues prior to the pandemic, but the intensity of the situation meant these working relationships developed in a wholly different way. Where before I would work with a wide range of people throughout the week, now I started working in a much smaller bubble. It allowed me to spend a lot of 1:1 time with people I was supporting and get to know them a lot more - but that probably comes with experience too.  

Throughout the lockdowns and then the eases and then more lockdowns, I realised that the things I would usually be experiencing outside of work that I cared a lot about, weren’t a part of my life anymore - they were almost paused.

It didn’t sit right with me. I felt like my life was missing something.  

Who to turn to when you have something to share 

So, in May 2020, I had a chat with Lesley Brown (Head of People Experience) and we spoke about how we could organise some kind of peer support within SeeAbility. I really wanted to encourage others, who maybe felt similarly, to talk about the things they were experiencing, in the hope that it would lead to something that could benefit a wider group of people than just myself.  

SeeAbility now has a team of Wellbeing Coaches. Our role is to provide our teams with a safe and reliable source of wellbeing management and assistance. We are all fully accredited by MHFA (Mental Health First Aid) England and I just think this is such an amazing resource that has been backed by SeeAbility.  

There is no doubt in my mind that this initiative will be more than successful, but there was still something missing for me.  

Speaking up 

I ended up approaching the CEO, Lisa, and Martin, the Executive Director of People, to talk about what more I could bring to the charity, which included thinking about how we can develop diversity and inclusion within SeeAbility. I knew there was a big part of myself that I could use to support this work. 

SeeAbility’s first LGBTQI+ Network was established and chairing the network has been a whirlwind experience. Working alongside Veronica Mulenga, who leads SeeAbility’s Racial Awareness Group, we have held ‘Games Hours’ and virtual drop-in sessions, alongside Inclusive Leadership workshops and consulting on various projects across the charity.  

As colleagues are starting to experience these conversations as part of an overall culture shift, we are beginning to understand the impact of this work. 

The most important thing I have learnt from my time working at SeeAbility is to trust yourself above everyone else, those who matter will listen and support.