Bristol Pride director awarded honorary degree

Daryn Carter MBE, director of Bristol Pride, has been awarded an honorary degree from UWE Bristol in recognition of his service to the LGBTQ+ community in Bristol.

He collected his Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at the Bristol Beacon during UWE Bristol’s fortnight of graduation ceremonies, where almost 6,000 students celebrated completing their degree.

Daryn has worked in equality and diversity for nearly 20 years and helped to found Bristol Pride, delivering the first modern Pride festival in Bristol in 2010. Bristol Pride has become one of the largest Pride events in the UK, and one of Bristol’s biggest annual events with 40,000 people attending Pride Day and 25,000 people marching in the parade through the city.

The event has grown under Daryn’s direction and relocated multiple times to meet the demand of its increasing popularity, beginning at Castle Park before moving to the Amphitheatre and Millenium Square, and onto its current home on the Downs. Bristol Pride provides space for over 60 local charities and groups to engage with the Bristol community and showcase LGBTQ+ services.

Daryn’s passion for diversity and inclusion was kickstarted while working in recruitment at the BBC where he supported underrepresented groups to access jobs and implemented inclusive recruitment processes within the organisation.

In 2014, Daryn was awarded the Lord Mayor’s Medal for his work across Bristol to tackle inequality, and in 2020 he received an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and was granted Freedom of the City of Bristol. 

Daryn has worked with businesses across Bristol to deliver workshops on discrimination and takes on advisory roles to help businesses establish equality-led staff networks. He works with schools in the city to give talks on bullying, LGBTQ+ identities and Pride, and visits prisons to talk about hate crime with young offenders.

Daryn said: “I am incredibly honoured and proud to be awarded an honorary doctorate from UWE Bristol. I'm thankful to see the importance of Pride and the positive impact that it has had on Bristol recognised. It's been an incredible journey growing Bristol Pride to one of the largest events in the city and one of the biggest Pride events in the UK, and I'd like to thank everyone who has helped and supported Pride along the way.”

Sarah Grabham, Deputy Head of the College of Business and Law at UWE Bristol said: “Daryn’s contribution to society, to championing equality, and to providing a voice for the vulnerable is immeasurable and inspiring. He works tirelessly to make Bristol and the wider region a more inclusive place for its community. He is a true ambassador and leader, and we’re so pleased to be able to honour him.”

UWE Bristol’s graduation ceremonies take place between Monday 21 July and Thursday 31 July. Daryn is one of a number of people being celebrated with honorary degrees in recognition of outstanding achievements in their chosen fields.