Reading Pride returns amid financial pressures

More than 13,000 attended Reading Pride 2024 making it their largest event

Organisers of Reading Pride parade and festival say support from local companies has halved, leaving the event with a £30,000 deficit.

It comes after the UK Pride Organisers Network said 75% of Pride events across the UK have seen a decline in sponsorship.

Chief Engagement Officer of Reading Pride, Tom Price said: "Regular sponsors don't have the same funds as last year and there is a real concern for the future."

Each year, it costs over £110,000 to host the event in the town.

It has been a challenging year for Pride events nationwide, with cancellations due to funding and volunteer shortages.

The UK's Pride movement began in 1972 when a group called the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) decided that, as well as protesting, it was also important to celebrate the community.

CEO of Reading Pride said he wants to see Reading Pride continue as a beacon of hope and celebration

Mr Price said he believes this year's funding shortage is due to "various worldwide events".

"We've come up a bit short in terms of funding, as we have lost two major sponsors and some of our UK sponsors are struggling for money.

"It's just become a bit difficult this year."

Liverpool's annual Pride event and the city's March with Pride were cancelled last month.

Whilst a group of organisations and people in Plymouth created their own event after the official Pride event was cancelled due to a lack of funds.

Mr Price said: "There are a couple of other pride events that have collapsed due to financial problems that we are all facing - we are seeing it happen a lot."

It is a place to show the community support and love says CEO of Reading Pride

He explained that the volunteer committee are working "really hard to try and make up that money" through "fundraising and finding ways to trim bits of the festival that are not necessary".

"We will put on a festival this year, definitely but we are really concerned about the future of Reading Pride," Mr Price added.

"We do have a little bit of a buffer but if we go into that this year, then next year we will be in a worse situation."

"It is a very worrying time, and there is a real concern that we will struggle in the future."

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