Give Pride: Pride makes an impact
Community groups benefit with £8,000 from Pride Social Impact Fund
Community groups from across Brighton and Hove have received a boost thanks to the Pride Social Impact Fund. From Whitehawk in the east to Portslade in the west, a record number of groups and organisations across the city have been awarded a slice of nearly £8,000.
The hope is they will use the money to bring a rainbow of happiness to their communities – in much the same way Pride does for more than 300,000 people who attend events in August.
Bids were considered by a panel made up of representatives from The Argus, BBC Sussex, Juice 107.2, Brighton and Hove Independent, Gscene, Brighton and Hove News, Latest TV and Latest 7 magazine.
Among the groups to benefit were the Tarner Community Project, which has received £1,000 towards providing a drop-in centre for a group of young people not in employment, education or training. A further £1,000 will go towards supporting the LGBT History Big Top event, due to take place in New Steine throughout February.
One of the groups to benefit is city-based creative writing charity Little Green Pig, which was awarded £500 towards a project creating a unique travel guide to Brighton and Hove.
Emily Hogan, of Little Green Pig, said: “It is fantastic that money raised by the public is going back into something which celebrates our city and the children that live here, and we are most grateful for the support.”
Other grants saw a sum of £495 awarded to the Friends of Farm Green to bring a mobile farm to Bevendean during the June half term, while the residents of Ardingly Court will get a new lawnmower and garden shredder thanks to a grant of £300.
Bob Hammond, of Ardingly Court Residents’ Association, said: “Pride has been having a positive impact on Brighton for many years, and it’s great to see them also having a positive impact on local communities.
Money raised by the public is going back into something that celebrates the city
Further awards were made to Dottie’s Cafe, which provides employment to deaf people in East Brighton Park; Friends of Regency Square, to establish an exhibition in the subway linking their area to the sea; and the Mile Oak Recreation Action group, which is trying to refurbish an open space in the heart of a Portslade community.
Tiffany Soanes, chairman of the Mile Oak Rec Action Group, said: “We are really looking forward to using the money to help us create a community garden for all of the local residents to enjoy for years to come.
The Pride Social Impact Fund (SIF) is in its second year and is separate to the Rainbow Fund, which also raises money from Pride but supports LGBT causes.
The SIF aims to support those groups or organisations which need a little helping hand in making a difference in their community. They do not have to be LGBT related; they don’t even have to directly-linked to Pride (although applicants directly impacted will be favoured). However big or small, the only criteria is that it will brighten up people’s lives by the time Pride comes round again next year.
Funding comes from contributions made by businesses within the St James’s Street Party area. Paul Kemp, of Brighton Pride, said: “Pride fundraising aims to both the Rainbow fund and the new Social impact fund are central to the delivery of Pride each year.
“Pride must thank the panel of local media editors who independently assess the community grant applications, it’s great to see such a diverse group of organisations applying for grants. We hope that the grants have a positive outcome for groups and projects that might not otherwise have support or receive funding elsewhere.”
He added: “Pride is only able to deliver this fundraising with the help of local businesses who contribute to the fund and take part in the Pride village party. We’d like to encourage more local businesses across the city who benefit from the bumper weekend of business Pride brings into the city, to get involved with our fundraising efforts for all our communities.”
