Disability Pride Month: Why Inclusive Workplaces Support Better Mental Health

July is Disability Pride Month, a time to celebrate the diversity, achievements and contributions of disabled people. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on howworkplaces can create environments where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.

At the heart of workplace wellbeing is inclusion. When employees feel accepted and understood, their mental health is often stronger, enabling them to bring their best selves to work.

St Martin’s:

Over the past three years, St Martin’s has hosted an annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Day, bringing colleagues from across the organisation together to celebrate and embrace our diverse workforce. Each year has featured a different programme of activities designed to promote inclusion, cultural awareness, and engagement.

This year’s event showcased a wide range of experiences, including an African dance performance, drag bingo hosted by a drag performer, and a ParaCarnival workshop with vibrant costumes, some of which had been upcycled from the Brazilian Carnival. Colleagues also enjoyed a selection of African and Caribbean cuisine alongside homemade Danish pastries, reflecting the rich cultural diversity within our organisation.

The mayor of Islington also attended to show her support for St Martin’s. She expressed a genuine interest in learning more about St Martin and the work we do. She commented on how much she enjoyed the event, particularly the diversity and the African performance. She also mentioned that she had already heard about St Martin from the previous Mayor before taking up her role, which reflects the positive relationship that has been built with St Martin’s, in particular Davenant Road.