Wednesday, 8th September 10

Presentation of the award for Pride's Best Float 2010 will be made to Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard this weekend. Kindly hosted by the Queens Arms (www.queensarmsbrighton.com) the presentation will be made by Robert Clothier, Chair of Pride in Brighton & Hove to all the hard-working volunteers who produced the award-winning float.

2010 is Switchboard’s 35^th birthday year and the theme of the float entered in the parade this August was '35 years of Fighting Prejudice'. Volunteers from the helpline and counselling service transformed a truck provided by ACA Scaffolding into a massive birthday cake. One of Switchboard’s glamorous helpline operators burst from the centre of the cake as the float passed the judging panel and other volunteers danced their way from Marine Parade to Preston Park dressed as giant birthday candles.

Astonishingly, the winning float was produced on a shoestring budget. Switchboard volunteers dedicated hours of their own time to sawing, sewing, sticking and painting to make the float and costumes with support from Same Sky community arts organisation. Some funding was provided by Brighton & Hove City Council and the remaining costs were met through the contributions of Switchboard's volunteers themselves.

Producing the float for the parade has become a real focal point in Switchboard's year and the whole process from start to finish is a great opportunity for volunteers to work together and to raise awareness of the services Switchboard provides to LGBT communities in Brighton & Hove and beyond. One of the volunteers involved  said,

"We are ecstatic to have won Best Float 2010, and the fact it's our 35^th birthday year makes it even more special"

In order to ensure Switchboard can continue to produce spectacular entries in the Pride parade, the organisation is currently looking for corporate sponsors. If your business would like to know more about how you can support Switchboard's work and boost your profile amongst LGBT communities contact the Services Manager on 01273 207050.