Family pride day a 'celebration of difference'

Izzie Koch and Emma Brown have been working to organise the event

Families in Somerset are being encouraged to celebrate what makes them unique and diverse at an event being held on Saturday.

The Balsam Centre in Wincanton's Family Pride Day has an aim to recognise and celebrate diversity "in any form".

“Families with diversity are often quite hidden in the community and we wanted to give them an opportunity to come together," said one of the organisers.

Activities on the day include pizza-making, craft activities, and a meet and greet with firefighters from Wincanton Fire Station.

The event - which is the first of its kind in the town - is supported by 2BU-Somerset, a specialist support service that helps young members of the LGBTQ+ community.

'Celebration of difference'

Emma Brown, deputy CEO of the Balsam Centre, said: “Every family is different and there is diversity in all families.

"It’s about being proud of the family that you are from - whether it’s a family that you are born into or the family that you choose.

"Diversity comes in many forms – including race, ethnicity, neurodivergence and age – and we want everyone to feel they can come together on the day, in celebration of the difference but also what connects us all together.”

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community herself, Ms Brown added that she wanted to show her children that there were other families out there who are just like theirs.

The Balsam Centre is a health living centre

This particular pride event will be "much more geared towards families", with a variety of activities suitable for all ages.

Izzie Koch, a Good Stuff Project Worker from the centre, said: “People are really excited about it and it’s been really a positive response so far," she added.

Organisers hoped the Family Pride Day could become an annual event in the future.

The free event runs from 10:30 until 14:30 BST on Saturday.