Hallmark Carehomes

Celebrating Pride – Nick’s Story

16 June 2022

Celebrating Pride – Nick’s Story

I am Nick Banister-Dudley, the Head of Compliance at Hallmark Care Homes. In my role, I have the responsibility for assessing and supporting our care homes’ compliance with regulatory standards and expectations.

I am delighted to be able to write this, as part of Hallmark’s second celebration of Pride month, after contributing last year. This year is a special one, not only because Hallmark is celebrating its 25th anniversary, but with regards to Pride, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Pride movement in the UK.

I am a gay man married my husband in 2017. We adopted our daughter in 2019. In my contribution last year, I explained my journey at Hallmark so far. I joined Hallmark Care Homes in March 2016, as the Executive Assistant to, the then, Managing Director. This is a role I stayed in, supporting both Ram and Avnish Goyal, until December 2019 when I started in my current role.

Many people will know that Pride month is held in June, as that was the month that the Stonewall riots took place, in the US, in 1969. These led to changes in gay rights, not only in the US, but across much of the world. It is important to remember what Pride month is for. Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate how far LGBTQ+ rights have come, but also to recognise how, in some places, there is still more work to do.

I am so pleased that Hallmark has chosen to celebrate Pride month again this year. This goes to show Hallmark’s commitment to one of its organisational values: individuality. As many LGBT+ people will know, Pride month is not just for those who identify as LGBT+. It is also the opportunity for allies of the LGBT+ community, like Hallmark Care Homes, to show their support of the LGBT+ community on its journey to secure equal rights globally.

Hallmark truly values individuality and celebrates uniqueness. When we say we are passionate about inclusivity, it is the truth! Hallmark does not believe that one size fits all and sees its team as a group of individuals. Hallmark supports its team members equally, whether they are part of a minority group, or not. Recognition is based on merit, rather than anything else.

I am proud of Hallmark putting its head above the parapet, again, to recognise Pride month.