During the final days of Pride Month, UK retailer Tesco has announced it is gifting nearly a quarter of a million pounds to LGBTQ+ charities.
The COVID-19 pandemic unfortunately has canceled many live planned events again this year, but that hasn’t stopped the donations and services from pouring in.
“We’re delighted that we’re able to help three fantastic charities again this year – who provide such valuable support to the LGBTQ+ community – as we continue working towards a safer, equal future,” said Andrew Yaxley, CEO Booker and Executive Sponsor of LGBTQ+ at Tesco.
Tesco is donating £80,000 apiece to: The Albert Kennedy Trust, which helping young homeless or struggling LGBTQ+ people; Bi Pride UK, which creates spaces for those within the community to express themselves freely without fear; and the Terrence Higgins Trust, which serves those who have HIV and those who want to ensure good sexual health is a right and reality for all.
“With the donation from Tesco in 2020, AKT grew its services team to meet the growing demand for help,” said Carrie Reiners, Deputy CEO at The Albert Kennedy Trust. “Tesco’s continued support in 2021 will be utilised to continue to ensure that our front-line services have the capacity, skills and resources to provide emergency and long-term assistance to ensure that no young person has to choose between a safe home and being who they are.”
The donation will be transformational too for Bi-Pride UK, says its Chair Avi Kay.
“As a small, entirely volunteer-run charity in a sector where most work is done by self or community-funded activities, a donation of this size entirely changes the landscape for us,” Kay says. “We are delighted to be able to use this donation to secure our future and work towards new projects as well as continue our existing work.”
Through the years and aside from its monetary support around LGBTQ+ causes, Tesco has made their stores a welcoming place for all patrons and its colleagues, as well.
Tesco boasts one of the largest LGBTQ+ colleague networks in Europe – and is a member of the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme and the Open for Business coalition to support LGBTQ+ inclusion around the world, as well as signatories of the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business on tackling discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.
The retailer has been one of Europe’s leaders in inclusivity. It continually works to be promote and instill diversity in its hirings of employees and offers them workplace places to report any behaviour that goes against its zero-tolerance policy for bullying, hate speech, discrimination and harassment. Tesco also offers them opportunities to share their concerns with company leaders.
