Worthing Pride's future no longer in doubt after sponsor steps in
Worthing Pride, scheduled for July 4 and 5 at Steyne Gardens, was at risk of cancellation due to unexpected financial constraints.
In April, organisers said the funds needed to cover the parade costs were missing due to lack of sponsorship and community uptake.
This was after only six businesses had applied, compared to 35 the previous year.
However, British Airways Euroflyer has now pledged enough funds to secure the festival's future for the next two years.
(Image: Sussex News and Pictures) British Airways Euroflyer said the partnership with Worthing Pride underscores the airline's commitment to supporting the LGBTQI+ community.
Pride director, Gary Richardson said: "Firstly, the local community business response to our GoFundMe and Community Angels project has been nothing short of outstanding.
"This has demonstrated that our local businesses fully support Pride and do not wish to see it leave our town.
"I am thrilled to be able to announce this fantastic partnership with Pride and BA Euroflyer the funding that has been raised by our local community will go hand in hand with the BA Euroflyer funding to ensure Pride in Worthing is here to stay.
"These funds will ensure for the next two years we can offer free entry into our fantastic parade. Showcasing that our amazing town and businesses stand by our LGBTQi+ community.
"The last two years, the parade theme has been protecting trans lives, and the same stands for 2025. Parade participants are encouraged to dress in blue, white and pink to show their support for trans and non-binary community members.
Karen Hilton, managing director, BA Euroflyer said: "We are proud to serve Sussex and play an active role in supporting local communities from our home at London Gatwick, and it's important to us that all our customers and colleagues feel respected and included.
"Our commitment to inclusion continues all year round particularly through our Flying Proud colleague network, and Pride events are a vital part of this in raising awareness of issues that affect the LGBTQi+ community.
"We are thrilled to secure Worthing Pride's future for the next two years and look forward to joining in with the celebrations this summer."
The first Worthing Pride event took place in 2018, and with funding now secured, the 2025 celebration will mark its eighth year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rutland Arms Hotel in Suffolk, UK, is up for sale
Property adviser Christie & Co has announced that The Rutland Arms Hotel, a historic Grade II-listed property in Newmarket, Suffolk, UK, is listed for sale. The sale is being facilitated by business property adviser Christie & Co and local commercial agent Cheffins. The Rutland Arms Hotel, which first opened its doors as a hotel in the 19th century, ceased trading in 2019. This four-storey red brick building dates back to the 17th century and was once connected to an annexe over Palace Street, which was demolished in 2020. The current property features an approved plan for a partial renovation and a partial new build 72-bedroom hotel. The proposed development encompasses four meeting rooms, new public areas, a bar, lounges, restaurants, and back-of-house facilities. An adjacent new build would accommodate 44 of the 72 guest bedrooms. Christie & Co Hotels director Simon Jackaman is overseeing the sale jointly with Cheffins. Jackaman said: 'Considerable care has taken place within the scheme to protect and preserve all the original features within the property, as well as the integrity of the building's listed status. The consented scheme will see it transformed into a 72-bedroom boutique hotel, retaining features such as decorative ceilings, fireplaces, and stained glass in the current designs. 'The Rutland Arms Hotel offers a unique opportunity to acquire a landmark freehold property in the centre of a well-known town and establish a high-quality operation, or explore possible alternative uses, subject to the appropriate necessary planning approvals being granted.' Last month, Christie & Co unveiled the sale of The Beaufort Arms Hotel in Monmouthshire, Wales, which has a freehold asking price of £1.5m ($2m). "Rutland Arms Hotel in Suffolk, UK, is up for sale" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Britain's biggest toy shop chain handed over to staff
The founder of Britain's biggest toy shop chain has handed the company over to its employees. Gary Grant, founder of The Entertainer, is preparing to transfer his family's 100pc ownership of the firm to an employee ownership trust (EOT), with the transfer to be completed next month. The move exempts his family from potential death duties ahead of Rachel Reeves's inheritance tax (IHT) raid. The retailer said the step would 'ensure the group remains independent with its employees as beneficiaries, while preserving both the family's legacy and the family feel of the business'. It comes amid a shake-up of IHT rules by the Government, which will cap tax relief on family businesses handed down to descendants at £1m from April next year, resulting in higher bills for those inheriting businesses. Under the previous system, company owners could leave assets to their families without paying death duties. The reforms, announced by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, in her maiden Budget last October, were designed to clamp down on tax avoidance and raise money for public services. However, they have outraged the owners of many family businesses, who argue that the changes will result in soaring IHT bills that could force their descendants to sell up. While the change at The Entertainer will allow the Grant family to avoid higher death duties, it is understood that exempting the company from IHT was not the sole motivating factor in moving the toy chain into employee ownership. Mr Grant said the decision had not been 'taken lightly'. He added: 'We couldn't be more proud that this still remains at the heart of the business today, thanks to the daily enthusiasm of our staff – many of whom have worked for us for many years. Because of this, ensuring our employees have a place in the Group's future is hugely important to us.' Under the EOT model, a controlling stake in The Entertainer will transfer to a trust which is indirectly owned by the employees, removing the need for staff to actually purchase shares themselves. The Grant family will receive payments for the business out of its future profits, although the company did not disclose a valuation. Any proceeds received by the Grant family will be tax-free. Advocates of employee ownership say it rewards staff better, increases loyalty and productivity. Examples of prominent businesses that use this model include the John Lewis Partnership and retail chain Richer Sounds. James de la Vingne, the chief executive of the Employee Ownership Association, said there was 'a growing trend for retailers making the move to employee ownership alongside calls to help save the high street'. Founded in Buckinghamshire in 1981, The Entertainer today runs more than 160 stores across the country and over 1,000 concessions in stores such as Tesco, Matalan and Marks & Spencer. As well as its eponymous stores, it owns the Early Learning Centre and Addo brands. The Grant family were paid a £15.62m divided during 2023, according to the latest available accounts for The Entertainer's parent company Teal Group Holdings, despite a fall in both sales and profits. Last November, Andrew Murphy, The Entertainer's chief executive, said the company had been forced to cancel two new store openings because of higher National Insurance contributions levied on employers in Ms Reeves's Budget. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Call for free bus passes to help under-22s into work
Under-22s in England should be given free bus passes to help them get into work and education, according to a report by MPs. The number of bus journeys taken in England has dropped in recent years, while fares have risen faster than inflation, it said. This was a barrier to opportunity and growth in some areas, MPs found, recommending a pilot scheme of free bus travel at any time of day for under-22s. The Department for Transport said it was providing "£1bn in multi-year funding to improve the reliability and frequency of bus services across the country". Since January 2022, everyone in Scotland aged between five and 22 has been entitled to free bus travel. In England, the number of bus passenger journeys had dropped from 4.6 billion in 2009 to 3.6 billion in 2024, the report by the Transport Committee said. Some smaller towns and rural areas have no bus services at all, or buses that run so infrequently that "they do not meaningfully add to people's transport options", it said. A 2019 study found that some 57% of jobseekers lived in areas where they could not reach a centre of employment within 45 minutes by bus. "High bus fares and limited local provision can severely restrict young people's access to education, employment, and other opportunities," the report said. 'We rely on public transport' Alex Mustafa, 19, says she uses the bus all the time as she can't drive due to health and financial reasons and would benefit from a free bus pass. "It would also help poorer young people like myself who rely on public transport to better plan for social connections without needing to worry about bus cost on top of how expensive it is to go out as it is," she said. Alex says she has been left waiting for a bus for over an hour before and has been late to work and missed social events due to cancelled buses. "It's very difficult to live life according to plan when you have to plan around an unreliable schedule. Trains are sometimes better, but they also come with a higher cost and they're more limiting with location," she said. Roman Dibden, chief executive of youth charity Rise Up, said it sees young people turn down job interviews and training all the time because they can't afford the bus fare. "Free bus passes for under-22s would remove a huge barrier, opening up access to jobs, apprenticeships, and training - especially in communities where opportunity isn't on your doorstep." 'Support people who struggle costs-wise' Dylan Lewis-Creser, 21, is a student in town planning and also stood as a Green Party candidate for Walkley Ward in the local elections in May 2024. They told the BBC they use the bus quite a lot to travel around Sheffield as driving is too expensive. "A free bus pass would mean I could get to and from university and work without paying £10 a week, which adds up significantly as a student on a low budget," they said. "That cost is amplified when considering changing buses to get to other job opportunities and elsewhere, like hospitals." Dylan thinks there needs to be more discussion around "making transport accessible, affordable and reliable." "Part of that would be supporting people who often struggle costs-wise to do that, such as young people," they said. "We've seen how it's boosted young people using buses in Scotland, and it only makes sense to extend that policy." Bus passengers spend £39.1 billion in local businesses every year, according to research from KPMG. But experts told the Transport Committee that the bus sector's contribution to the economy declined by around £8.9 billion between 2011 and 2023. The report said: "The current deregulated nature of the bus sector can encourage commercial operators to "deprioritise" less profitable routes, often leaving vulnerable communities without a service." 'Social exclusion' The committee heard that older people were particularly deterred from using the bus if they felt unsafe at bus stops. The report recommended improvements to bus stops and shelters such as screen showing real-time information. Jane Bishop is the chief executive of North Norfolk Community Transport, a charity that provides low-cost dial-a-ride services in the local area. She says for some people bus services mean the difference between being able to stay in their homes or having to move into assisted living. "Most of our passengers are older people, but not all," she told the BBC. "A lot of people, we're the only people they see every week." "They become friends with the other people on their route so it's a great tool for combatting loneliness," Ms Bishop said. But, she added, "it's a lottery whether there is a community transport in your area". Fare cap The cap on bus fares outside London was increased to £3 last year. The committee said fare caps were most beneficial to people in rural areas, as they tended to take longer journeys or had to use multiple buses for one trip. But the report was critical of the short-term nature of funding for bus services, saying it has "hampered local authorities' ability to improve services". "Five-year settlements in other transport sectors like rail and the strategic road network have enabled greater certainty and promoted strategic planning," it said. "Bus services, the most widely used form of public transport, require a similar commitment." Bus services are devolved in England, meaning they are the responsibility of local authorities. Individual councils could choose to offer concessions to under-22s. The Local Government Association (LGA) welcomed the committee's recommendation to end "stop-start funding" for buses. A spokesperson said: "Bus services provide an essential mode of public transport in local communities, relied upon by millions of people. "More work is needed to attract them back onto buses to ensure services are sustainable for our communities. Stop-start funding risks losing passengers, with patronage difficult to recover if and when money is found." Steff Aquarone, a Liberal Democrat MP who sits on the Transport Committee, said the report shows the need for "a different model for rural public transport". He said local councils cannot heavily subsidise bus fares as in other countries, but "if you put buses on at the time people want to travel, going to places they want to go, people will use them". Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell. 'I've applied for hundreds of jobs': One in eight youths not in work or education Free bus scheme clocks up 21 million journeys
