Annual Pride event faces financial struggles

Gloucestershire's main Pride celebration is due to take place on 13 September

The chair of a Pride organisation says financial challenges are putting the future of its main event at risk.

Pride in Gloucestershire, which began in 2006, will be asking the public for donations on the gate this year due to a £25,000 shortfall in its budget.

Chair Richard Stevens said the cost of putting on the event, which is not ticketed, has increased by £16,000 since 2023.

He told BBC Radio Gloucestershire this is "a struggle we're seeing across the UK in Pride and community organisations".

Mr Stevens added: "Grant opportunities are fewer and the competition for that restrictive grant funding is increasing even more.

"On top of that, a lot of Pride relies on sponsorship from businesses and, due to the cost of living, we're seeing reductions in sponsors.

"It difficult – we've got to try and increase the income we have, or scale back and do what we can do with Pride in Gloucestershire."

Mr Steven's emphasised Gloucestershire Pride is not a ticketed event

Gloucestershire Pride events now run in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Tewkesbury, as well as as a larger event in at Gloucester Park, attracting thousands of people.

Mr Stevens said in addition to Pride in Gloucestershire, which will take place on 13 September, asking the public for donations, it has also launched a "support wrist band" which will provide another way for people to support the event.

Festival goers can also sponsor a toilet at the event for £25 and put a message up in their sponsored toilet.

Any public donations will help cover performers' fees, production costs and equipment hire, Mr Stevens added.