Proud@Nestlé partners with Stonewall Housing to support LGBT+ communities facing homelessness
From fundraising and volunteering to awareness campaigns, Proud@Nestlé is stepping up to support the LGBT+ community beyond our walls, starting with a hands-on volunteering day in July, where members transformed the garden of a Stonewall Housing residence into a welcoming, green space for residents.
“It was just amazing,” said Al Burgess, one of the co-leads for external partnerships at Proud@Nestlé. “You plan something, you hope it works – and then you’re there, digging and planting with colleagues, and you realise, this is what community looks like. It was a privilege to do it with Stonewall Housing.”
Why Stonewall Housing?
Al and Heather Kennedy, who lead the external partnerships for the network, were determined to find a charity that reflected the full diversity of the LGBT+ community.
“We looked at a lot of organisations,” said Heather. “But many focused on just one part of the community – youth, a specific identity, or a local geography. Stonewall Housing stood out because they support everyone who identify as LGBT+: trans people, older people, people of colour. That inclusivity was non-negotiable for us.”
“They scored 100 out of 100 on our criteria,” said Al. “And when we met them, it just clicked. They were collaborative, full of ideas and genuinely excited for us to work together.”
Founded in 1983, Stonewall Housing provides advice, advocacy and specialist support to LGBT+ people across the UK. Their services include supported accommodation, mental health support, domestic abuse advocacy and substance misuse support, helping thousands each year find safety and rebuild their lives.
Claire Linacre-Hilton, Director of Development at Stonewall Housing, said: "We’re really pleased to have started our partnership with Proud@Nestlé this year, joining forces at a time when the need has never been greater. More LGBTQ+ people than ever are reaching out to us in crisis – facing homelessness, unsafe housing, and the long-term impact of being excluded or unsupported. Partnerships like this are vital; they help us raise the funds and awareness we need to meet rising demand and ensure that when someone turns to us, we’re there with expert advice, advocacy, and a route to safety."
The next step
For Proud@Nestlé, this partnership is a bold extension of the work the network has already been doing internally, including creating safe spaces, championing inclusion and building community.
Liz Ho, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: "Our Proud@Nestlé network has made great strides in supporting the LGBT+ community internally, and it felt like a natural next step to extend that support externally. Stonewall Housing’s mission to provide safe homes for LGBT+ individuals aligns perfectly with the network's commitment to creating safe spaces. I am so excited to see what we can achieve together through this partnership, and how we can make a positive impact within our community."
“This is about more than just giving back,” said Heather. “It’s about standing alongside a community we’re part of. We’re not just supporting Stonewall Housing, they’re supporting us too. They’ve helped us with safe spaces and opened our eyes to the realities many LGBT+ people face.”
Looking ahead
The partnership is just getting started, but the ambition is big. Proud@Nestlé has a three-year plan in place, with quarterly reviews to keep the momentum going.
“One of our goals is to expand this internally, " said Heather. “We want to get more teams involved, more colleagues educated, and more hands-on support for Stonewall Housing. This is a chance for everyone at Nestlé to be a part of something meaningful.”
“There’s so much potential externally too,” said Al. “We want to use our voice to amplify the work of Stonewall Housing. We’re a global company but deeply rooted in the communities where we live and work. This partnership is about showing up, standing alongside those in the LGBT+ community and making a real difference.”
