Our Mission
Our mission is to work with our partners to provide representation and celebration for every single member of the LGBTQ+ community in Exeter and the surrounding areas.
We are a large, vibrant, diverse and inclusive community. We keep celebration and education at the heart of all we do.
All deserve to be seen, heard and to live their lives with respect, free from discrimination and intolerance.
Our values
Celebration
Protest
Respect
Inclusion
Education
Collaboration
committee
![[CHAIR]
Russell Back (he/him) **Labrador Energy** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2023, like many others after the unfortunate cancelation that year. Exeter Pride doesn't just happen and it made total sense to just get involved and see what I could do to](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/32ca10f8-706d-44ca-9eb2-59b7bde7390c/Russell+Back.png)
[CHAIR] Russell Back (he/him) **Labrador Energy** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2023, like many others after the unfortunate cancelation that year. Exeter Pride doesn't just happen and it made total sense to just get involved and see what I could do to help. Started out doing comms, then sponsorship and now I’m privileged to be elected Chair! Cannot wait to give Exeter an amazing Pride in 2025!"
![[SECRETARY] Roscoe Hastings (he/him) **The Governance Gay** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2024 and have a real passion for wanting to make Exeter Pride bigger and better for our whole community. I currently work at the University and am keen to promote a](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/9a9d0a96-9e5b-43f6-be53-a55d697f86ca/Roscoe+Hastings.png)
[SECRETARY] Roscoe Hastings (he/him) **The Governance Gay** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2024 and have a real passion for wanting to make Exeter Pride bigger and better for our whole community. I currently work at the University and am keen to promote an inclusive and welcoming city to all our queer students and allies! In my spare time I like to travel a lot and listen to a lot of Scandi-pop!"
![[TREASURER] Dale Austin (he/him)
**With great power comes great responsibility**
"I joined Exeter Pride in 2023 and am a Devon-born bald man who works in finance. I am a huge Marvel & Star Wars fan, and get on much better with animals than I do with](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/26b27007-3dfe-4536-9196-ffdd26401f5d/Dale+Austin.png)
[TREASURER] Dale Austin (he/him) **With great power comes great responsibility** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2023 and am a Devon-born bald man who works in finance. I am a huge Marvel & Star Wars fan, and get on much better with animals than I do with humans. I got involved with Pride because I truly believe in the message of inclusivity, diversity & equality within this world and want to do everything in my limited power to help promote this."
![[FOUNDER] Alan Quick (he/him)
**Our Grandaddy**
"Alan was the inspiration behind the establishment of Exeter Pride, which he did with the late Michael Halls, CEO of Intercom, the LGBT+ support network in the South West of England, assisted by a small](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/773e6971-ebe5-4552-9e0d-44d1cacd5a5b/Alan+Quick.png)
[FOUNDER] Alan Quick (he/him) **Our Grandaddy** "Alan was the inspiration behind the establishment of Exeter Pride, which he did with the late Michael Halls, CEO of Intercom, the LGBT+ support network in the South West of England, assisted by a small number of other volunteers. Alan was chair of Exeter Pride for three years and continues as an active trustee with the committee to this day."
![[TRUSTEE] Mark Evans (they/them)
**General Trustee**
"Helping ensure that Pride runs well."](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/7ac84fc7-bde6-4d4a-ab43-a1e67d764643/Mark+Evans.png)
[TRUSTEE] Mark Evans (they/them) **General Trustee** "Helping ensure that Pride runs well."
![[COMMUNITY COORDINATOR] Annie Bennet (she/they)
**Don't give her the megaphone! Too late: bought my own!**
"I joined Exeter Pride in 2023. I am a teacher, tutor and writer based in Exeter. As a bisexual, genderfluid person who grew up in rural Devon,](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/9cb01faa-7400-4524-9733-381c2bf688dd/Annie+Bennett.png)
[COMMUNITY COORDINATOR] Annie Bennet (she/they) **Don't give her the megaphone! Too late: bought my own!** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2023. I am a teacher, tutor and writer based in Exeter. As a bisexual, genderfluid person who grew up in rural Devon, I remember the freedom, validation and joy I felt when I attended my first Pride. I want to give back to the community and create a sustainable, inclusive Pride that celebrates, educates and supports LGBTQ+ people, allies and others."
![[EVENT DIRECTOR] Amber Shoremarston (she/her)
**I’m winging it, absolutely winging it**
"I spent my early gay days coming out to friends and family in Exeter, 2010-2016, and I now live in Plymouth! Exeter Pride 2011 was my first Pride ever, and Exete](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/2bc5d535-e2bd-4ef0-b431-8494327f393e/Amber+Shoremarston.png)
[EVENT DIRECTOR] Amber Shoremarston (she/her) **I’m winging it, absolutely winging it** "I spent my early gay days coming out to friends and family in Exeter, 2010-2016, and I now live in Plymouth! Exeter Pride 2011 was my first Pride ever, and Exeter has my heart! So I'm ecstatic to be involved again 14 years later! I volunteered last year to join Exeter Pride and ended up coordinating the most amazing inclusive event that I could have ever possibly dreamed of! Can't wait to take on my new role as Event Director, bring on Pride 2025!"
![[ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR] Katie Ronaldson (they/them)
**AKA 'Sir Limpsalots**
"I joined Exeter Pride in 2019 as a trustee and have since then been deputy chair and then chair last year (which makes me positively geriatric in trustee terms!), and th](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/80a62761-cbef-40a0-bfb8-d3bac4b4c6f0/Katie+Ronaldson.png)
[ENTERTAINMENT COORDINATOR] Katie Ronaldson (they/them) **AKA 'Sir Limpsalots** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2019 as a trustee and have since then been deputy chair and then chair last year (which makes me positively geriatric in trustee terms!), and this year I will be the entertainment coordinator. There is nothing like the feeling of all the moving cogs that make up Exeter Pride finally come together on the day, and seeing the joy on the faces of the people attending."
![[H&S COORDINATOR] Kat Mant
(she/her)
**Has Health & Safety gone mad or was she always this way?**
"I joined Exeter Pride in 2023 because the joy, comfort and freedom of being surrounded by like-minded people, whilst feeling safe to be your truest sel](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/2f980c86-2551-4b9a-a477-6527f298e985/Kat+Mant.png)
[H&S COORDINATOR] Kat Mant (she/her) **Has Health & Safety gone mad or was she always this way?** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2023 because the joy, comfort and freedom of being surrounded by like-minded people, whilst feeling safe to be your truest self, is something everyone should experience. Pride events do just that for so many. Who wouldn't want to play a part in that magic? I also enjoy derailing Committee meetings with inappropriate humour..."
![[PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR] Melissa Brooks (she/her)
**I guess someone needs to do it**
"I joined Pride in 2024, after being involved in the LGBTQ+ and trans/non-binary communities for a few years now."](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/836b565c-d248-47e6-832f-5934b578059e/Melissa+Brooks.png)
[PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR] Melissa Brooks (she/her) **I guess someone needs to do it** "I joined Pride in 2024, after being involved in the LGBTQ+ and trans/non-binary communities for a few years now."
![[COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR & WEBSITE MANAGER] Issie Cox (she/her)
**I'll photoshop it later**
"I'm a southwest girlie and after moving back to Devon in 2024, I promptly joined Exeter Pride. Through understanding my sexuality, meeting my same-sex f](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/00a98683-1699-4895-a7dd-9f07697be8d3/Issie+Cox.png)
[COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR & WEBSITE MANAGER] Issie Cox (she/her) **I'll photoshop it later** "I'm a southwest girlie and after moving back to Devon in 2024, I promptly joined Exeter Pride. Through understanding my sexuality, meeting my same-sex fiancé, and volunteering for the local Pride organisation where I previously lived, I grew a love for being part of the world of Pride and wanted to give back to the community that loves and accepts me for who I am. My professional career spans many kinds of artistic media creation so it's a great joy being able to share that in my voluntary roles."
![[SITE COORDINATOR] Henry Park (he/him)
**I’ll probably have a new hair colour in a week!**
"I joined Exeter Pride in 2024 with a view to build and develop on the already amazing event! Looking forward to working with the team to provide a safe and en](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/659c66cbcf6908449d961dd3/dc4cc7e3-62e2-40c8-aa12-67fea2ed511b/Henry+Park.png)
[SITE COORDINATOR] Henry Park (he/him) **I’ll probably have a new hair colour in a week!** "I joined Exeter Pride in 2024 with a view to build and develop on the already amazing event! Looking forward to working with the team to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all! I enjoy working around different events and always looking to help others! I am also a keen concert goer, always trying to find new music to listen to!"
Want to be a part of this?
We are always interested to hear from anyone wanting to get involved in the running of Exeter Pride. We are a diverse family with individuals from all areas of the LGBTQ+ community and work to ensure equal representation for all. If you want to know more about joining the volunteer team at Exeter Pride, get in touch!