Thursday, 4th October 07

Pride in Brighton and Hove announces the results of its organisational review and thanks PJ Aldred for 10 years of hard work and dedication ahead of her departure from Pride.

Brighton, 4th October 2007. Operations Manager PJ Aldred will be leaving Pride after ten years of hard work and dedicated service to the organisation. She said of her decision to leave, “this is one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but after ten years it just feels like time to move on and to pursue a career as an events and marketing consultant. The last decade has been a roller-coaster ride, with many ups and downs, but I leave Pride safe in the knowledge that today it is bigger, better, more exciting and more inclusive than at any other time and that’s quite an achievement. I’m pleased to have been part of the massive team, including all the statutory agencies that made this possible, and wish everyone all the best for the future.”

A spokesperson for the Pride board said, “PJ has played such a key role in getting Pride to where it is today and has become a friend to us all. She will be greatly missed and we wish her every success into the future.”

Additionally, the board of trustees is pleased to announce the results of a six month organisational review. As a result, the new position of ‘Director’ will be created with overall operational control of the organisation, into which all staff will report. The position of Operations manager will be discontinued after PJ’s departure. The new position has been advertised in local and national press and online. Additionally, the post of Fundraising and Communications Manager has been created. All other aspects of the operation and organisational activity have been examined exhaustively throughout the period of review and will have considerable impact on the efficiency of Pride into the future. This new operational structure will add focus, efficiency and a new drive to the organisation.

This review was necessitated by the fact that Pride has become increasingly popular and successful year by year over the last decade and the organisation itself must be equipped not only to manage an event of such magnitude, but be best placed to tackle the future funding and operational challenges in the ever-changing voluntary and charitable sector.

The board has also indicated that Pride will enhance its charitable work throughout the year and expand its active contribution to tackling issues of diversity and intolerance in Brighton and Hove outside of the festival weeks.

Josh Mills, Chair of the Board, said, “Pride has always been the best party in town, and will continue to be just that. But too few people know about all that fabulous charitable work and grant-making that we also do throughout the year. We will develop this side of Pride and make more of an impact throughout the year.

“Also, Pride will tackle the challenges that every charity in modern Britain faces by becoming more professional, more entrepreneurial, and contributing more to our city. This will take a lot of work by all of us, but will ultimately provide better outcomes for the many people who look to Pride to fight for a society that is accepting of people of every sexuality and gender. We are already provide fabulous services to our financial supporters, but here too we can, and will, do better”