Latest news with #RichardStevens
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Annual Pride event faces financial struggles
The chair of a Pride organisation says financial challenges are putting the future of its main event at risk. Pride in Gloucestershire, which began in 2006, will be asking the public for donations on the gate this year due to a £25,000 shortfall in its budget. Chair Richard Stevens said the cost of putting on the event, which is not ticketed, has increased by £16,000 since 2023. He told BBC Radio Gloucestershire this is "a struggle we're seeing across the UK in Pride and community organisations". More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire Mr Stevens added: "Grant opportunities are fewer and the competition for that restrictive grant funding is increasing even more. "On top of that, a lot of Pride relies on sponsorship from businesses and, due to the cost of living, we're seeing reductions in sponsors. "It difficult – we've got to try and increase the income we have, or scale back and do what we can do with Pride in Gloucestershire." Gloucestershire Pride events now run in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Tewkesbury, as well as as a larger event in at Gloucester Park, attracting thousands of people. Mr Stevens said in addition to Pride in Gloucestershire, which will take place on 13 September, asking the public for donations, it has also launched a "support wrist band" which will provide another way for people to support the event. Festival goers can also sponsor a toilet at the event for £25 and put a message up in their sponsored toilet. Any public donations will help cover performers' fees, production costs and equipment hire, Mr Stevens added. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Pride events in smaller towns 'help beat isolation' Thousands to attend Pride headlined by The Cheeky Girls Photographer's work showcases city Pride event Related internet links Pride in Gloucestershire
BBC News
31-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Pride facing financial strain, says chairperson
The chair of a Pride organisation says financial challenges are putting the future of its main event at in Gloucestershire, which began in 2006, will be asking the public for donations on the gate this year due to a £25,000 shortfall in its Richard Stevens said the cost of putting on the event, which is not ticketed, has increased by £16,000 since 2023. He told BBC Radio Gloucestershire this is "a struggle we're seeing across the UK in Pride and community organisations". Mr Stevens added: "Grant opportunities are fewer and the competition for that restrictive grant funding is increasing even more."On top of that, a lot of Pride relies on sponsorship from businesses and, due to the cost of living, we're seeing reductions in sponsors."It difficult – we've got to try and increase the income we have, or scale back and do what we can do with Pride in Gloucestershire." Gloucestershire Pride events now run in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Tewkesbury, as well as as a larger event in at Gloucester Park, attracting thousands of people. Mr Stevens said in addition to Pride in Gloucestershire, which will take place on 13 September, asking the public for donations, it has also launched a "support wrist band" which will provide another way for people to support the goers can also sponsor a toilet at the event for £25 and put a message up in their sponsored toilet. Any public donations will help cover performers' fees, production costs and equipment hire, Mr Stevens added.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teenager Bray signs three-year West Brom deal
West Bromwich Albion have signed Harrogate Town teenager Jack Bray on a three-year deal. The forward, 18, made his senior league debut in League Two last season against Grimsby Town but will join the Baggies' under-21 group upon his arrival at The Hawthorns. Advertisement "In the FA Youth Cup, you play teams from different leagues, categories, and players get the chance to stand out. We watched Harrogate's previous two matches before we played them last season and Jack stood out," Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens told the club's website. "He is crafty with the ball at his feet, creative in tight areas, and has got that bit of off-the-cuff to his game which we don't always see. "Our job is to let him use that creativity as he progresses through the 21s programme here."
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Teenager Bray signs three-year West Brom deal
West Bromwich Albion have signed Harrogate Town teenager Jack Bray on a three-year forward, 18, made his senior league debut in League Two last season against Grimsby Town but will join the Baggies' under-21 group upon his arrival at The Hawthorns."In the FA Youth Cup, you play teams from different leagues, categories, and players get the chance to stand out. We watched Harrogate's previous two matches before we played them last season and Jack stood out," Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens told the club's website., external"He is crafty with the ball at his feet, creative in tight areas, and has got that bit of off-the-cuff to his game which we don't always see."Our job is to let him use that creativity as he progresses through the 21s programme here."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Pride events in rural areas 'help beat isolation'
The chair of a Pride organisation says reaching out to LGBTQ+ people living in rural areas is key to helping prevent in Gloucestershire, which began in 2006, started connecting with smaller towns and villages in 2019, spurred on by people contacting organisers about setting up their own Richard Stevens said living outside of a city "you might feel like you're one of the only [LGBTQ+] people because you're scared of talking to other people in case word spreads". Pride events now run in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Tewkesbury, as well as as a larger event in Gloucester in September, attracting thousands of people. 'Bottling things up' Mr Stevens said: "If you live in a big city like Manchester or London or Birmingham, or even Bristol, there are generally more groups, more spaces to go and more people to speak to."I grew up in a small town and... [you are] not just isolated from other people in the community, or from activities or safe spaces which are usually prominent in larger towns, but it's that whole feeling of that lack of privacy, or being scared of what people might be talking about."You feel like you're bottling things up, and you can't share information, and you can't be your true self."He explained everyone was welcome to all Pride events in Gloucestershire, "as long as they're respectful of everyone around them"."It just helps break down those those invisible barriers." The Gloucestershire Gay & Lesbian Community (GGLC), has been running since 1974, following the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in 1969."It's believed to be one of the longest running [LGBTQ+] organisations in the UK, which is a huge achievement," said Mr Stevens."And even going back further back in history, the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership developed a queer history map of the county, and this can go back all the way back to the Middle Ages, back to King Edward II.""He's buried in Gloucester Cathedral, and he was known to be bisexual," he said. Thousands have turned out for the recent events in Cirencester and Cheltenham, which Mr Stevens described as "fantastic".The next event in the county in on 19 July in Cinderford, where 500 people are expected to attend."It's really good to see people coming out and supporting - and learning as well," said Mr Stevens. "All of our Pride events are open, they're free to attend."
