The idea is simple, the change: profound.
It began with people not knowing if they were welcome or not. Not knowing how, if they walked in through the doors, they would be greeted and treated.
Now, a simple symbol in a window or doorway can help alleviate anxiety that some people feel because they do not know if they might be treated differently because of who they are.
EVERYONE Welcome is a conscious message.
In the early stages of development, simply displaying the sticker demonstrates how local traders, young people and community members are aware of how they demonstrate intentional inclusive values in upholding an Everyone Welcome statement from shops to bars, restaurants to cinemas.
Wherever the symbol is seen, people know that everyone in that space not only welcomes people no matter how they identify, but that they uphold the values of inclusion, are committed to learning about society and will not tolerate any form of 'ist' and '-ic' against anyone, and, if necessary will take action.
And, how do we do this?
Being to raise awareness and kickstart conversations by drip feeding the idea organically. A simple idea, expressed through a window decal, initially aimed at a community’s businesses and cultural venues.
Each venue that displays the sticker signs up to welcoming and defending people’s Protected Characteristics of the Equalities Act 2010. They agree to make all staff aware of their commitment and to ensure that people feel safe and consciously welcomed in their venues. The aim: to get the ball rolling.
— Establishing Phase
Developing a local hub of people and/or venues is the next step in developing a deeper understanding of the Everyone Welcome agenda. This hub actively encourages people to take part, supports those who have signed up to the values by signposting events, training and resources. The hub reach out into the community in an attempt to embed the Everyone Welcome values into different events. The aim: to make it more visible to more people and to keep the conversation growing.
— Developing Phase
Creating opportunities for dialogue, discussion and debate through suites of seminars, events, screenings, talks, meet and greets is the ultimate goal. Suites of engagement activities are available in signed up venues as a (not for profit) pay-as-you-go approach or as an annual membership. The aim: to deepen understanding whilst keeping new balls rolling and conversations growing.
— Enhancing Phase
Read how it started.
In Nicholas' eyes, this is not OK. As a gay man, happily working and living in Clevedon since 2018, Nicholas could not get over that people were not sure how they would be welcomed in this amazing coastal community, and so, a seed was sown: how do we demonstrate subtly but with clarity, that everyone is welcome? From shops to bars, restaurants to cinemas, a small but discreet window sticker is a simple gesture in a very complex world. However, the horizontal collection of colours gives confidence to those that do have that privilege based on how they identify, to be able to boldly walk into an unfamiliar venue.
This symbol gives hope.
It provides a recognition that a person will be seen as a human and treated as such in that venue. No matter if you fancy a cocktail or coffee, buy chocolates or art, have a pint or print made, seeing the EVERYONE WELCOME sticker helps some people to take that one step into accessing the community that they have chosen to be part of.
That's it. It is not about the pride flag, nor is it about drawing attention to a specific cause or group of people. It is a simple, conscious, mindful act of welcome. And, if some people can't see that, and think that 'we are welcoming therefore we shouldn't need a sticker', they have missed the entire point entirely.
You have to see change in order to feel it.
Nicholas, founder of The Clevedon Distillery, insisted that a person leave the cocktail lounge in April 2024 as they were loudly sharing racist, homophobic, misogynistic, sexist and xenophobic views that were abhorrent. In the same month he met two more people: a trans person who said they did not feel welcome in many places locally (as they did not know how they would be welcomed should they walk in through the door), and, a mother new to this country and community who felt very isolated, again as she wasn't sure where she would be welcomed.
Make an impact today
Support our mission through displaying a sticker, offering time, resources or even a donation to the central pot. Let us know by completing the form (right).