A new major fundraising event celebrating the progress of LGBTQ+ communities and a charity’s own remarkable development has been launched.
Pride Action North (PAN) is hosting the inaugural Progression Ball and Awards Ceremony on February 2, 2024 to mark the beginning of LGBTQ+ History Month in recognition of the work being carried out by organisations and individuals to make the North East a more inclusive, diverse and accepting place for all.
The event, to be held at the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park in Newcastle, will include a night of entertainment, a three course meal, an exhibition of Gilbert Baker Foundation’s and ReportOUT’s The Flag in the Map Project, an auction, raffle and games, and inspirational stories from a range of LGBTQ+ people.
In addition, there will be an awards ceremony rewarding the efforts of people across the region in promoting and supporting local communities.
The evening will also be a celebration of the transformation PAN has undergone as a charity too. Earlier this year, the organisation was rebranded from Northumberland Pride to encapsulate the wide range of support services it now provides across the whole of the North East.
To add to the fun, attendees are asked to come dressed in one – or all – of the colours of the Progression flag – the more colourful, the better.
Darren Irvine-Duffy, the charity’s chair, said: “All associated with PAN are extremely excited to be able to launch the inaugural Progression Ball and Awards to celebrate the amazing achievements of LGBTQ+ people and entire communities.
“PAN itself has been on an incredible journey and 2023 has been a milestone year which resulted in a major rebrand and new website being created, and the organisation goes from strength to strength by being able to offer a wider range of support and advocacy to more people across a larger geographical area.
“The fact that we are able to stage something as major as the Progression Ball shows just how far we have come as a charity, and we’re going all out to make sure the event is something which forever stays in the memory of all involved.
“This is the perfect opportunity to further unite LGBTQ+ communities and, to use PAN’s motto, show that ‘together we are stronger’.”
To book your tickets for the Progression Ball and Awards and to nominate somebody for an award, CLICK HERE