Job losses and £45k debt misery for Brighton Pride
September 29th, 2009
Brighton Pride has been forced to axe jobs as it struggles to pay a £50,000 deficit from this year’s event.
One of the three full-time members of staff is to be made redundant, while the other two employees are to work reduced hours.
In August 2009 Brighton Pride announced it needed £50,000 to pay debts. The deficit was blamed in part on poor weather on the weekend of the Parade, which led to lower than expected donations from attendees.
After a month of fundraising, Brighton Pride has raised £4,732.42. With just 14 weeks to go before the December deadline, organisers are urging individuals and businesses to help meet the target.
Pride has applied for a street collection license, which would allow volunteers to collect funds on the street from the public. A major fundraising event is also planned for December, although details have yet to be announced.
“This is clearly a very difficult time financially for Pride,” said Yvonne Barker, Chair of Pride in Brighton & Hove.
“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.”
The future of Brighton Pride 2010 is in jeopardy if £50,000 is not raised by December 2009.
Over 160,000 people attended Brighton Pride 2009, and the event cost more than £300,000 to stage.
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