Following a meeting with the directors of Brighton Pride CIC, the Conservative group on Brighton and Hove council have announced they will support Pride’s bid to have the annual grant of £25,000 reinstated by the Green administration.
Plans by the Greens to withdraw the annual grant were highlighted in the Daily Mirror on Monday, September 30 and Pride have indicated to the city council that they cannot finance the annual Pride Parade without the grant.
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the Conservative Group on Brighton and Hove Council, said:
“I am a great supporter of the Pride festival and have always tried to do what I can to help if difficulties arise. I met with the organisers last week and I am pleased to say that the Conservative Group supports their call to reinstate the Council grant for next year and, if necessary, will move an amendment at the Budget Council meeting to achieve this.”
Former Pride South East Trustee Geoffrey Bowden, now the Chair of Brighton & Hove’s Economic Development & Culture Committee claimed in a BBC local radio interview that the final decision on the grant had not been made, but Pride Director David Hill confirmed to interviewer Neil Pringle that Pride had been told officially by council officers that the grant had been withdrawn and there would be no money in 2014.
Brighton Pride Community Interest Company raised £43,000 at Pride 2013 for the Rainbow Fund to distribute to deserving LGBT/HIV organisations in their November Grants Program. £34,000 was raised by £1 a head on every ticket sold being ring fenced for good causes while a further £10,000 was raised and donated through Pride fundraising events such as Doggie Pride, Pride Arts Festival events and general fundraising in the LGBT venues.
The Rainbow Fund is independently administered for the LGBT community by the Sussex Community Foundation, the largest grant giver to good causes in Sussex.
You must be logged in to post a comment.