Learn more about support for LGBTQ+ members of the armed forces
The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN), which is made up of both Northampton General and Kettering General Hospitals, are running a free online event to show what support is available for the LGBTQ+ armed forces community within Northamptonshire.
During the online event, on Thursday 5 March 2026 at 6pm, attendees will hear from LGBQT+ charity Fighting with Pride. The webinar will focus on the support available to those LGBTQ+ service personnel dismissed or forced from service prior to 2000, along with the support offered to veterans and reservists.
The webinar will be held on MS Teams – a link can be found on the news page of the NGH website.
In 2025 the hospital group was awarded the gold accreditation from the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This is to recognise their on-going commitment to support the armed forces community across the community.
The webinar will be presented with Kevin Bazeley (Pride in Veterans Standard manager) from Fighting with Pride.
“I have lived experience of serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and being barred from service due to my sexuality. As a charity it’s important to us to connect with those personnel who may feel left behind by the armed forces. Working with the NHS is an important way to share our messages, especially to those who might feel disconnected. That’s why I’m delighted to be taking part in this online event.”
The webinar will cover the work undertaken by the charity, including their work on reparations, signposting and befriending. UHN have also been accredited by the charity’s ‘Pride in Veterans Standard’ (PiVS).
John Leivers is the co-Chair of the UHN Pride staff network explained: “The members of the armed forces community are as diverse as the communities they defend. We want to demonstrate our continued commitment to the armed forces. By signing up to the PiVS, this is another way to ensure our local veterans and their families can feel confident when accessing our services, ensuring they’ll be treated with dignity, respect and understanding.”
The webinar is open for everyone in our community to attend – whether they have service in the armed forces or not. The online meeting has been arranged to highlight and celebrate the contributions made by LGBTQ+ personnel and understand the lifelong impact this will have.
More information on veterans’ support across UHN can be found on the Kettering General Hospital website.
More information on Fighting with Pride, and the PiVS scheme can be found on their website.