Pride in Halton is proudly led by individuals with direct lived experience across the LGBTQ+ spectrum, including people who are openly queer, transgender, non-binary, and living with or affected by HIV. Our leadership team has faced stigma, discrimination, and exclusion firsthand, both within society and at times within the systems meant to support us — including healthcare, education, and local services.

Our founder and director, Hayley Smith, is an openly LGBTQ+ woman and the founder of multiple grassroots organisations including Northwest HIV Support CIC and TRANSformation CIC. She has navigated significant challenges around health, identity, and social acceptance — experiences that now drive her passion for building inclusive, affirming spaces where others feel safe to be their true selves.

This personal connection to the issues we campaign on ensures our work is not only compassionate and trauma-informed, but also grounded in real understanding. Our leadership reflects the diversity of the people we serve and stands as a visible example that LGBTQ+ people can and do lead — with resilience, purpose, and pride.

Through this lived experience, our leadership deeply understands:

• The isolation faced by LGBTQ+ people in small or rural towns.

• The unique challenges of navigating healthcare, housing, and mental health services as a transgender or non-binary person.

• The impact of HIV stigma and how it intersects with gender, sexuality, and identity.

• The importance of being visible, especially in communities where being openly LGBTQ+ still carries risk or fear.

This lived experience is not a background detail — it’s the foundation of our approach. It informs every decision, shapes every event, and gives voice to those who are too often left out. It ensures our organisation is led with the community, not just for it.