Wednesday, 23rd September 09

Since the announcement five weeks ago that Pride in Brighton & Hove faces a potential deficit of £50,000 this year the total amount donated so far stands at £4,732.42. Made up from individual donations on the Pride JustGiving page, at fundraising events held at Wild Fruit, Revenge and The Aquarium and donations from Cowards Guest House and Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus.

Alongside the fundraising activities of partners Pride itself has been taking action to raise the much needed funds. Plans are in place for Pride’s own major fund raising event in December which will deliver an evening of great entertainment, fun and competitiveness – watch this space for further news! Pride is in the process of applying for a street collection license which will, subject to approval, allow us to hit the streets next month shaking buckets and raising the profile of our appeal. As well as this Pride trustees and volunteers have also been out selling raffle tickets and shaking buckets at local events, such as the White Air Festival last weekend, and are working with local businesses and community groups to help support their fundraising activities.

However with just 14 weeks to go to the end of the year Pride in Brighton & Hove needs EVERYONE to step up to the mark and help by raising money and donating what you can online or at special Pride fundraising events. In the coming weeks Pride will be promoting up and coming events, some of which are listed below, and will launch its own A-Z of fundraising ideas for individuals and groups.

Pride has also had to make some very tough financial decisions and is reducing its staff capacity through both redundancy and reduced working hours for the remainder of the staff team.

Yvonne Barker, Chair of Pride in Brighton & Hove commented “This is clearly a very difficult time financially for Pride. We have already had to make staff cuts which will have a negative impact on our capacity as an organisation to organise and fund Pride next year and limit our ability to work with the LGBT community and local groups. Unless significant additional fundraising is achieved, further cuts will have to be made. We need everyone who believes in our charitable objectives and who wants Pride to happen next year needs to contribute and help us raise more funds”

In the coming weeks Pride will be announcing lots of exciting fundraising initiatives and events to keep this appeal high on everyone’s mind and in this release we are asking people to run the Brighton Marathon for Pride and are delighted to announce seven local business fundraising events…

Up and coming business fundraising events...

Local LGBT businesses are showing their support for Pride by holding fundraising events; here are the next four dates for your diaries, listings, air time and column inches etc…

BaRBaRiK presents.... Dubstep Polestars @ Nameless Bar
5-6 Western Road

Date: Saturday 26^th September, 10pm-3am, £3 entry all to Pride

All DJs and dancers are performing free so all the door money will go directly to Pride in Brighton & Hove

A Tribute to Phil Starr @ The Aquarium

Date: Sunday 11th October

Local scene celeb's celebrate the life and time of the legendary icon and friend, Free entry with all donations to Pride and a Pride raffle. From 6.30pm. For details of who is performing go to: www.theaquariumtheatrbar.co.uk

Pride Cabaret Fundraiser Weekend @ Queen's Arms

Date: Friday 9^th-Sunday 11^th October, 12pm-2am

Friday night kick starts the opening of the Queens Arms special Pride Cabaret Fundraising weekend. The QA wants you to help them ensure the continuation of "PRIDE" There will be many acts from the cabaret circuit taking to the stage on Friday night along with DJ Kamp Kevin and On Sunday Lola Lasagne takes to the stage at 5.30pm followed by a  cabaret marathon from 7pm

Pride Halloween Quiz @ The PV at the Jurys Out

Wednesday 28th October
£1 to enter all donated to Pride

Pride Halloween @ The PV at the Jurys Out

Saturday 31st October

With Madame Fanny Haddock doing Fanny's fortunes - palm reading, crystal ball, tarot, tea leaves and more

Pride Halloween weekend Fundraising Special @ The Amsterdam

Date: Friday 30^th October-Sunday 1^st November
More information to follow

Girls Do Pride @ Latest Music Bar

Date: Sunday 15^th November, 7pm-11pm, £3/£4. A fantastic evening of music and song featuring Greymatter, Heads.Hearts, Andrea Baily, Invocal, Nicky Mitchell, hosted by Cat Harding.

Please support these events and dig deep!

Those wishing to donate towards Pride’s fundraising appeal can do so via its website: http://www.justgiving.com/brightonpride/donate/ and can keep up with latest developments via Pride’s Official Facebook site.