A LEADING charity for older residents in Wilmslow has become one of the first to sign up to a diversity programme for its staff and service users.

Age UK Cheshire East, alongside Age UK Cheshire and Age UK Wirral, has joined the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme.

The scheme champions equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) staff and service users, and the three Age UK organisations are the first in the country to sign up to it.

Damon Taylor, chief executive of Age UK Cheshire East, said: “We are committed to supporting our LGBT staff and communities.

“We understand the importance of creating an inclusive workplace for all staff.

“We recognise the value that LGBT staff and service users can bring to the organisation and are taking active steps to make our policies, actions, values and services as inclusive as possible for LGBT staff and service users.”

The programme is a best practice sharing forum in which organisations receive support from LGBT equality charity Stonewall, with the aim of creating a fully inclusive workplace and service.

Stonewall research has found that LGBT people aged 55 and over are more likely to be single, live alone, and are less likely to see biological family members on a regular basis.

The charity also claims LGBT people are more likely to drink alcohol, take drugs, and have a history of mental ill health.

Abby Crawford, client account manager at Stonewall, said: “We know that older members of the LGBT community often have negative lived experiences, be that through isolation, mistreatment or sometimes stepping back into the closet.

“We are delighted to know that the staff at these Age UK organisations have taken a commitment to LGBT equality by joining the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme and believe in a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people are accepted without exception.”

Age UK Cheshire East is looking for people in the area to share their stories as plans to celebrate LGBT History Month in February 2017.

The charity is also working with Body Positive to create an Older People’s LGBT network across Cheshire, known as Silver Rainbows.

For more information and to get involved, call 01625 612958 or email dominic.anderson@ageukcheshireeast.org