Victim Support named UK’s most LGBT-friendly charity

19 January 2016

Independent charity Victim Support has been named the number one not-for-profit employer for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, according to gay rights charity Stonewall.

This is Victim Support’s seventh consecutive year in Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers – Workplace Equality Index, and is the second time the charity has made it into the top 20, this year reaching number 13 on the list*.

The charity, which gives practical help and emotional support to victims of crime across England and Wales, outranked major international corporations and beat many other national charities to the top spot, including Barnardo’s and St Mungo’s, as well as being named the third top overall LGBT-friendly employer in Wales.

Lucy Hastings, Director and LGBT senior champion at independent charity Victim Support, said: “Being named the number one charity in Stonewall’s top employers in the Workplace Equality Index is a fantastic result for Victim Support, and recognises everything we do to make sure the charity has an inclusive workforce.

“Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of Victim Support to ensure that all victims of crime – regardless of, for example, their gender identity or sexual orientation – get the support and help they deserve following crime.

“Within the past 12 months we have provided staff training to promote awareness of LGBT issues and enhanced our policy and practice to support victims of hate crime among a range of other measures. We also continue to have a LGBT network to give advice and support, and address any issues facing our staff and volunteers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Read the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2016 List.

*Victim Support ranked number 13 employer for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in this year’s Stonewall index – the highest ranking charity listed.

About Victim Support

For further information about the independent charity Victim Support please contact the press office by phone on 020 7268 0202 or email on press@victimsupport.org.uk.

Victim Support is the independent charity for victims and witnesses of crime in England and Wales. Last year we offered support to more than 1.2 million victims of crime, including 17,000 children and young people. Victim Support runs the Homicide Service supporting people bereaved through murder and manslaughter and more than 100 local projects which tackle domestic violence, antisocial behaviour and hate crime, help children and young people and deliver restorative justice. The charity has around 1,100 staff and more than 3,000 volunteers.

Supportline: 08 08 16 89 111