Cardiff and Vale College is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with a series of events focussed on increasing the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their history, lives and their experiences.
The annual month-long event takes place every February throughout the UK, USA, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Finland, Cuba, Canada and Australia. The theme for LGBTQ+ History month 2025 is activism and social change.
The programme of events at Cardiff and Vale College includes musical performances, wellbeing and confidence workshops, creative activities and mental health awareness raising sessions. All campuses will be decorated, and a book club will be launched by the LGBTQ+ Staff Network.
With 24 members, the LGBTQ+ Staff Network at Cardiff and Vale College was launched in October 2024. It has quickly become a safe space for staff to connect, share experiences, and support one another, enabling cross departmental collaboration and friendships to grow thus promoting an inclusive culture.
Emma McLoughlin is Deputy Head of Widening Participation and is a member of the LGBTQ+ Staff Network. She said:
“LGBTQ+ History Month is an important moment in time to unite. Diversity, inclusion, and community are core values at the very heart of our college, and we continue to proactively help with the discrimination, social isolation, coming out experiences, and lack of acceptance that can significantly impact mental health within the LGBTQ+ community.
“We’re proud of our community here and will continue to do all that we can to ensure a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.”
Cardiff and Vale College holds the prestigious Leaders in Diversity status and is a previous winner of the Association of Colleges (AoC) UK-wide Beacon Award for its innovative work to embrace equality and inclusion. It also holds a WorldSkills UK Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador Award.
Sharon James Evans is Principal of Cardiff and Vale College. She added:
“Studies indicate that the LGBTQ+ community is more than twice as likely to experience a mental health condition compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. That’s simply not fair or acceptable which is why we work so hard to ensure that our college is fully inclusive.
“We represent one of the most vibrant and diverse communities in Wales. Like our annual celebrations for Pride Month, LGBTQ+ History Month provides us with a platform for self-expression, celebration of identity, and solidarity. It gives us a chance to continue to educate ourselves on LGBTQ+ history and reflect on the privileges we may have, but it’s also a chance to look at what hasn’t changed, and what needs to be done differently in future.”
Cardiff and Vale College is second on the NCFD’s Top 100 Most Inclusive Workplaces, a list that crosses all sectors and sizes of organisation including UK-wide private sector firms, banks, colleges and charitable organisations.
