Chester Pride 2021 Plans

After a lot of careful consideration, Chester Pride has taken the decision to not hold our annual LGBT+ Celebration in a physical format for 2021, instead reviving the Digital Chester Pride format in a bigger and bolder way.

Digital Chester Pride 2021 will take place on Saturday August 7th, starting at 2pm on Chester Pride’s website www.chesterpride.co.uk. The format will build on last year’s successful event, but it will be refreshedwith even more entertainment, information, and general good fun. If it is possible, safe, and appropriate at the time, Chester Pride will host a few physical hosting parties where people will be able to watch the Digital Pride stream, and celebrate, with a small crowd. Chester Pride will also be felt across the city, with a special Rainbow Trail being created through the city centre. Across a couple of weeks people will be able to follow their own route through the centre to view decorated windows, showcasing LGBT+ history, icons, achievements, issues, and more, in retail and hospitality spaces, both existing and empty.

For the charity, Covid-19 has created a lot of ongoing issues. In a statement the Chair of Pride Warren-Lee Allmark said, “We have, of course, not been able to hold any events since February 2020, which we have been happy to comply with to protect our guests, partners, and volunteers from Covid-19. We are still committed to protecting all those who might work on, or come to, our events. Whilst the UK Government has set out a roadmap that gives hope to events and festivals happening as we enter step 4 in June there are, however, multiple factors that still present potential risks, and may result in the roadmap not occurring as forecast. This is coupled with the financial damages caused by the suspension of events. We have been unable to fundraise as we would normally, through public donations and fundraising events, and neither have we been able to access any government relief schemes. This has left us unwilling to commit financially to planning a large-scale event that has still so many questions marks and potential risk as to whether it can go ahead.”

This switch to a digital format is not one the Chester Pride Committee have taken lightly. The planning for their event starts shortly after the previous year’s event, around October, with meetings between the charity, Cheshire West & Chester Council, statutory and emergency services taking place from January. Covid-19 uncertainty puts pressure on the charity being able to deliver a safe event that does not have a negative impact on the local Police, Hospitals, Paramedics, and Fire services already stretched because of Covid-19, and who will all likely still be facing increased pressure even as the vaccination scheme progresses.

Chester Pride are still planning to take advantage of the easing of restrictions to plan some fundraisers and social events for the community. They are in the process of putting together a calendar of events that will be revealed as the country enters stage 3 and 4 of the restrictions easing. A highlight the charity is planning is a ‘Reflect and Connect’ event currently expected to take place in September. It will be a much smaller event that their typical Chester Pride event, with a current expected capacity of around 2,000; though many of the event details may change between now and the event taking place. This ‘Reflect and Connect’ event will offer a day of entertainment on its stage, but also a chance for the LGBT+ community to socialise and get access to support and information. It will be the first chance that Chester Pride will have to physically showcase the many new support projects it has developed or supported through the past 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic. This will include its flagship Just Ask helpline service, which has had over 400 contacts since it launched at the start of the pandemic, and the Box Project which has placed free condoms and menstrual products in over 15 social venues across the city, so anyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity will not be caught short when in need of these items.

Chester Pride’s event may have been affected by Covid-19 for two years in a row, but it has been able to undertake its charitable work in partnership with its key partners and sponsros who have continued their support throughout the pandemic. Chester Pride owes a huge thanks to its partners M&S Bank, Cheshire West & Chester Council, Bank of America, and Virgin Care who are supporting them again in 2021 along with its sponsors Bristol Myers Squibb, Airbus, Bed Student Rentals, ABC Taxis 434343, Body Positive Silver Rainbows, University of Chester, DTCC, Mecca Bingo, Chester Boat, The Environment Agency, Cheshire Fire & Rescue, CWP NHS Trust, Cheshire College South & West, and David Keane Police & Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, not forgetting their incredible service partners and fantastic volunteer committee who have worked hard throughout 2020 and into 2021.

Chester Pride Chair, Warren-Lee Allmark, talked about what 2021 holds for Chester Pride, “Although our main event will be Digital, it doesn’t mean that Chester Pride is doing any less. We will continue to serve our LGBT+ community though a lot of exciting projects and plans, including the launch of our very own Café and LGBT+ safe space that will not only service our community but also several others. Besides working to increase our support for our LGBT+ community, our commitment to the wider community will continue with out annual Foodbank campaign, along with a new homeless campaign launching later in 2021.”

For further information on Chester Prides exciting plans and commitments, check out their social media, and new website launching later this month, www.chesterpride.co.uk

UPDATES ON CHESTER PRIDE WILL BE POSTED ON WWW.CHESTERPRIDE.CO.UK OR ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES Facebook: ChesterPrideUK, Twitter @Chesterpride, Instagram @Chester_Pride_Official

Chester Pride is an LGBT+ focused charity established in 2013. They plan and run the annual Chester Pride event that sees around 15,000 people attend the celebration of diversity. They have also expanded their work and throughout the year to provide charitable projects and services to support the LGBT+ community. Theirflagship service is the Just Ask helpline that offers support on any LGBT+ topicor to any LGBT+ person, all year round.