By: Fatu Sanha
Organization: Pride
Location: London
Cost to Volunteer: Free
Pride is a non-profit that is completely run by volunteers and gives a platform to London’s LGBTQ+ community while campaigning for equality.
London Pride Parade
Photo By: Fatu Sanha
More than one million people took to the streets for the annual event to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community and I was there volunteering as a Senior Steward.
My role was to lead a team of six other stewards within Trafalgar Square, to interact with members of the public and to provide them with information. I directed people to bars, toilets and other areas within the Pride Parade route. I also helped ensure all visitors have a good, safe and fun day. My team and I were very different from each other, but we made it work and I loved spending the day with them.
London Pride Parade
Photo By: Fatu Sanha
I love this organization because they’re accepting of every race, religion, gender and sexual orientation. I’m straight, but Pride literally embraces everybody and when I say everybody it means that. People from all different backgrounds and lifestyles, which is amazing.
London Pride Parade
Photo By: Fatu Sanha
Since this is still a sensitive subject matter for many, I did some training prior to the event. We learned how to talk with people in general, not focus on gender and basically make people feel comfortable in their own skin. We also did a complete walk through of the parade’s key locations.
No background checks are required since it’s only a day “work” but if you want to be a permanent volunteer throughout the year, you must complete a background check.
I had such an amazing day volunteering with Pride and would do it all again in a heartbeat.