Kent store supports local Pride festival through Nisa’s Pride Pot

Shell Medway in Kent has donated £500 to Medway Pride CIC, a local charity that organises an annual Medway Pride festival.

The donation was made through Nisa’s Making a Difference Locally (MADL) Pride Pot.

Medway Pride CIC is a volunteer-led organisation that works to promote equality and diversity in Medway, and to create a more welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people. The annual Medway Pride festival is the charity’s flagship event, and it attracts thousands of people from across the region.

“We at Shell Medway are proud to support Pride in all capacities,” said Shell Medway manager Stephen Pocknall. “We believe that everyone should be able to be themselves and celebrate their identity, and we are committed to creating a more inclusive and welcoming community.”

Sarah Jones, chair of Medway Pride CIC, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Shell Medway for their generous donation. This donation will help us to continue our work of promoting equality and diversity in Medway. We are excited to use the funds to support our upcoming events and activities.”

The charity is currently planning its next festival, which will take place on 23 September. The festival will feature a parade, live music, food stalls, and more.

MADL’s Pride Pot, launched in June, is worth £50,000 to donate through Nisa retailers to support LGBTQ+ community groups and charities. Launched during Pride month, Nisa retailers can access up to £500 of funding per donation with 100 community groups/events and charities set to benefit from the Pride Pot.

Nisa retailers will have until June 2024 to utilise the funding pot ensuring donations can be used all year round.

“We were so pleased to be able to offer dedicated funding for LGBTQ+ communities and I’m delighted Shell Medway are one of the first retailers to access this funding for their community in Kent,” Kate Carroll, Head of Charity at Nisa, commented.