Lorna Stewart-Hook

ICA18 Shortlisted Nominee.

Diversity Champion Award for Private Sector

Lorna recognised there was a distinct lack of LGBTQ+ awareness in HMP Northumberland and decided during 2017 this needed to change. She started a prisoner LGBT group and a competition was launched to design an LGBT logo to represent HMP Northumberland. Open to staff and prisoners, Lorna requested that the winning designs form a flag to be used at Newcastle Pride within their annual march. She was quoted in the local press following this stating, “I hope Northumberland Pride will happen one day”. After the article was published Lorna received numerous messages of support from people wanting to know how they could get involved with “Northumberland Pride”. This incredible diversity champion formed a committee and what started as visibility for Sodexo led to a county wide pride with a main event attended by over 2500. With Lorna at its helm, the group have held numerous community events including “HMP Northumberland Pride”.