All photos by Michael Stone from Nick Ford Photography
On Monday, October 16, Ironworks Studios was the venue for the 2023 event to announce the grants that have been approved by the Brighton Rainbow Fund (BRF) independent grants panel.
BRF distributes funds raised within the community as grants to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects. This year has been challenging for fundraisers, particularly for Brighton & Hove Pride. Attendance to Pride was this year severely affected by the double whammy of appalling weather and the decision by GTR, the train operators, to not run ANY trains on the Saturday of Pride weekend.
The BRF event was hosted once again by Lola Lasagne who generously returned to Brighton from their new home in Manchester to show their continued support for BRF.
The first part of the evening was to recognise the fundraising achieved by community events and venues, which makes it possible for BRF to distribute as grants. Pride Fundraising Champion certificates were presented to Brighton & Hove Frontrunners, Legends, Club Revenge and Brighton & Hove Pride for fundraising over the Pride weekend, and Fundraising Champion certificates to Brighton Bear Weekend and the Fallen Angel for fundraising at Brighton Bear Weekend and through the year. These certificates were presented by Jane Pritchard, a trustee of BRF.
The grants were then announced. Each group were presented with a certificate, and then asked to give a short description of their supported project, and the benefits that the BRF grant will bring. Scene will be running a series of articles over the next few months showing how the grant money will be used by each project.
The first grants were presented by Persia West, a member of the BRF Independent Grants Panel.
Radical Rhizomes: £7,500
Continued support for fortnightly QTIPoC affirmative activities.
Traumfrau: £1,000
Court fees for weekly queer basketball.
HIV Hour: £1,600
Continued funding of core costs for weekly programme on Radio Reverb.
Maria Baker, trustee of BRF, then took over presenting duties.
Older & Out: £6,620
Continued support for a monthly LGBT Elders lunch club at the Somerset Centre.
Trans Pride Brighton & Hove: £7,500
Core funding for the Trans Pride Centre.
Marlborough Productions: £5,000
To help kickstart a new LGBTQ+ heritage engagement project.
Pathways to Health: £2,650
Support in delivering ear acupuncture at TransSober meetings
Chris Gull, Chair of Trustees at BRF, then took the presenting reins.
TONIC: £7,500
Capacity building for alcohol-free social engagement events for bi, gay and trans men.
Brighton & Hove LGBTQ+ Switchboard: £7,500
Extension of pilot Rainbow Neighbours project.
Socially Engaged Artists Salon (SEAS): £7,500
Ringfenced for when needed to support and promote the work of BPoC and LGBTQ+ visual artists.
The final tranche of grants were presented by Jane Pritchard, trustee of BRF.
The Rainbow Chorus: £4,000 AND £850
Continued support for RC+ project and continued support for deaf awareness and outreach project
The Clare Project £7,500 AND £7,500
Continued support for the NOURISH project and ongoing delivery and capacity building for a community engagement project.
Lunch Positive: £7,500 AND £5,400
Continued support for the weekly HIV lunch club and continued support for the weekly drop in.
