Get involved with Southampton Pride 2022

Southampton Pride is back for 2022! Being home to a diverse community of staff, students and alumni, Solent University is once again proud to be supporting Southampton Pride as an official sponsor.

This annual event, celebrates diversity, brings together our local communities and helps us build a culturally enriched and cohesive city – one of the University’s Civic Charter priorities.

Free for all, this family event will be packed with activities, a variety of stalls and live entertainment throughout the day. You can find the latest information and line up details on the organisers website.

As one of the main sponsors for the day, students, staff, alumni and the local community can get involved in the following ways:

• Pride parade march: Staff, students and alumni are invited to take part in the main Pride parade representing Solent University. The pride parade takes over the streets of Southampton and features dozens of charities, businesses, and community supporters. If you would like to volunteer to take part in the event’s parade, enter your details here and we will be in touch with further details. You will be provided with Solent branded placards to carry on the march.
• Re:So pop-up: The Re:So (The Retail Solent Initiative) team will be at the Guildhall square with a variety of Pride merchandise promoting student and alumni work.
• Photo point: Pop along to the Solent stand, grab a photo in our giant deck chair and find out more about Solent’s LGBTQ+ networks.

Many Solent students are involved with Southampton Pride, providing live broadcasting, media and technical support on the day. The Solent Productions team will once again be supporting organisers.

Julianne Watling-McCarthy, Event Organiser at Southampton Pride says, “Once again we are proud to be working with Solent University as one of our long-standing sponsors. Solent University has supported Southampton Pride for many years and without the support of local organisations like Solent, this event wouldn’t be possible. We are fortunate to have the professional expertise and guidance from Solent students and staff, supporting us with the media and technical aspects of Southampton Pride”.

University Secretary and Registrar, Jim Irving, says, “I am proud of Solent’s diversity and inclusivity. Pride means different things to many different people. For me, it’s a way to acknowledge the campaigning of those who have tirelessly fought for our rights, while recognising how far we have still to go and how varied the lived experiences of the members of our communities are.

“I recognise how fortunate I am to be able to be open about my sexuality and to have the freedom to be myself in all aspects of my life. With that recognition, I believe, comes the responsibility to continue the fight for equality and to support others within our communities.”

Solent’s support of Southampton Pride follows the University recently being named National Student Pride’s LGBTQ+ Inclusive University of the Year’ for putting inclusivity and diversity firmly on the agenda.

If you have any questions, please email the Communities Development Team at engagement@solent.ac.uk.