2024-08-31-accounts - York Pride

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

YORK PRIDE

2024 Annual Report

1[st] September 2023 – 31[st] August 2024 York Pride / Registered Charity: 1154441 / www.yorkpride.org.uk Registered address: 248 Fifth Avenue, York, YO31 0PN

Introduction

2024 has marked a defining year for York LGBT Pride, with the event achieving unprecedented success and growth. We delivered our largest, most vibrant Pride to date, reflecting months of planning, innovation, and teamwork. From a record-breaking turnout to an expanded and diverse lineup, the event showcased the strength of our community and the passion of those working behind the scenes.

Our goals this year were ambitious: to elevate the scale, inclusivity, and overall experience of York Pride. Judging by the overwhelmingly positive feedback and national comparisons, we are proud to say York Pride is now recognised as one of the leading free Pride events in the UK. This is a reflection of both our commitment and the collective effort of our committee, volunteers, and supporters.

We continued to make meaningful steps toward greater accessibility and inclusion. Infrastructure improvements—including the addition of a second Mobiloo and increased accessibility tracking—helped ensure the event could be enjoyed by more people than ever before. While we are proud of this progress, we are also acutely aware that inclusion is an ongoing journey, and we remain dedicated to further improvements year on year.

As the scale of the event increases, so too does the financial responsibility. While we remain in a healthy financial position, we recognise the importance of developing new funding streams and building reserves to protect the future of York Pride in less certain times.

We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of our sponsors, especially our main partner, Aviva, whose renewed commitment through a two-year sponsorship agreement has been instrumental to our success.

Looking ahead, we are excited by the opportunities for further development. We’re exploring new ideas, including the potential for a large Winter Pride event in partnership with the City of York Council. Revisiting this long-standing concept reflects our drive to expand the reach and impact of York Pride throughout the year.

None of this would be possible without the dedication of the committee—past and present—who bring passion, creativity, and a shared vision to everything we do. As we prepare for the year ahead, we are heartened to see many of our team continuing into 2025, ensuring momentum and continuity.

This Annual Report sets out the full picture of our activities, achievements, and finances for the past year. We hope it provides both a celebration of progress and a platform for continued growth as we work towards an even more inclusive, sustainable, and visible future for York LGBT Pride.

Our aims and objectives are:

To promote equality and diversity for the public benefit, in particular the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, of those living in York and the surrounding areas, by:

Raising awareness and educating the public about the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people;
Cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality through celebrating the diversity of the LGBT community, and;
Staging an annual LGBT festival and smaller events, including regular social events for the LGBT community, in a safe environment throughout the year;
Providing funding and/or grants and/or donations to other charitable and voluntary organisations which the trustees shall from time to time determine.

About York Pride

York Pride is a registered charity which aims to promote equality, diversity, and advances in education, in order to eliminate discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

York Pride raises awareness of LGBT issues by promoting and staging events, taking part in campaigning and commentary in the media, and providing support to other LGBT charities and voluntary organisations. We also promote the provision of information, advice, and support that celebrate LGBT lives and history. We aim for York to be a place where everybody knows that the diversity offered by the LGBT community is something to be celebrated and in which LGBT people can feel safe and accepted.

We believe that inclusiveness improves the self-esteem and provides a sense of belonging, which helps to diminish the psychological effects of discrimination faced by individuals in daily life.

Our summer Pride event, which takes place within a Pride festival week, provides our main platform for a celebration of the diversity of the LGBT community in a context of entertainment, inclusivity and fun. The event is a focus for the visibility of the LGBT community in York and provides an opportunity to draw attention to important LGBT issues.

York Pride is operated by a small team of unpaid volunteers who are working hard to continue to improve Pride for the benefit of the LGBT and wider community. We depend upon sponsorship, donations from events, local businesses and supporters and money we raise through our fundraising activities.

We are always keen to improve what we do and to be welcoming to all members of the community. If you have any comments or feedback or would like to get involved in any way, we would love to hear from you.

Chair’s Report – 2024

York Pride 2024 has undoubtedly been our largest and most successful event to date, with record-breaking attendance, an impressive lineup, and a bustling festival. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.

This year, we set out with ambitious goals to enhance our lineup, increase the event's scale, and improve its quality. When compared to other free Pride events, both locally and nationally, York Pride stands out as one of the best. This is a tremendous accomplishment that everyone involved should be extremely proud of.

I believe we should look to try and visit some larger events which are similar to us to see where we can improve.

Colin will provide more detailed financial specifics, but I am delighted to announce that our financial position remains robust.

The Parade, a highlight for many, ran smoothly thanks to the meticulous organization by David M and our newest team member, Tim. Their efforts along with the rest of the team ensured a seamless experience for all participants.

We have continued our efforts to make York Pride more inclusive and accessible. This year, we introduced an additional Mobiloo (a mobile accessible toilet) and added extra tracking around the site. While we celebrate these successes, we recognize there is always room for improvement. It is crucial to continue pushing for greater inclusion and seeking support to ensure York Pride is accessible to all members of the LGBT+ community.

As our event grows, we must remain mindful of rising costs and continually explore additional revenue streams. Maintaining a positive cash position each year should always be our goal, but it is also essential to ensure we have reserves to navigate less prosperous years if necessary.

I would like to extend our gratitude to all our sponsors, especially our main sponsor and partner, Aviva, with whom we have signed a two-year deal covering 2024 and 2025.

I want to express my deepest thanks to this year’s committee. Whether you have been involved since 2009 or joined in 2023, whether this is your first year or your last for the time being, your contributions—big and small—are what make us a fantastic team.

I’m pleased to see many restanding for 2025 committee.

Finally I’d like us to look at the feasibility in us holding a Large Winter Pride event, the Barbican still offer free dates through City of York Council - whilst 11 years ago when the idea was last floated it never progressed we should at least look into exploring the idea again.

Financial Review

York Pride remains in a strong financial position. This is due to the hardwork and dedication of the committee and trustees.

Our aim is to have enough is reserve to be able to afford the next years Pride event, should some unforeseen circumstances effect us such as loss of major sponsor, weather related issues such as loss of income on the day due to rain and lower attendance.

Declaration ~~|~~ The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees Annual Report and Accounts Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees

Signature Full Name Greg Stephenson Position Chair Date 18/06/25

York Pride (Charlty Number: 1154441) Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity Accounts Independent Examination Services

York Pride (Charlty Number: 1154441) Contents Index Page Independent Examiner's Report Receipts & Payments Accounts Statement of Assets and Llablllties Notes to the Accounts

Independent examlnerfs report to the trustees of York Prlde I report on the accounts of: York Pride for the year ended: 31 August 2024 which are set out on pages 2 to 4. Responslbllltles and basls of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act, Independent examlner's ststement I have completed my examinatlon. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wlth the examination glvlng me cause to believe that In any material respect: l accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records I have no concerns and have come across no other matter5 in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. -Jai-&LA /g /Lf Jeff Todd (FCA) Outsource independent examination services 24 First Avenue York Y0317YQ Date:

York Prlde (Charity Number: 1154441> Recelpts & Payments Accounts for the perlod ended: 31 Au8USt 2024 31 Au8USt 31 August 2024 2023 Total Total funds funds Unrestricted funds Restrlcted funds Recelpts Sponsorship Stalls Donatlons Events MerchandSse Other Totsl recelpts 75,250 26,286 266 75,250 26,286 266 78,960 15,105 432 5,810 9,050 10,101 119,458 12,117 992 114,911 12,117 992 114,911 Payments Pride Event5 Merchandlse Storage unlt Admin & other costs Total payments 83,237 8,011 6,866 4,069 984 103,167 83,237 8,011 6,866 4,069 984 103,167 77,234 21,462 1,244 2,335 102,275 Net of recelptsllpayments) Balance brought forward Balance carrled forward 11,744 98,286 11,744 98,286 17,183 81,103 110,030 110 030 98,286

York Prlde (Charlty Number: 1154441) ststement of Assets and Uabllltles at: 31 Au8USt 2024 31 August 31 August 2024 2023 Totsl Total funds funds Unrestrlcted funds Restrlcted funds Assets Cash at bank and In hand Bank account I Bank account 2 Hlstory month Cash in hand and petty cash 17,888 90,358 17,888 90,358 46,784 49,625 1,110 767 1.784 110 030 1.784 110 030 2024 Total funds 2023 Total funds Unrestrlrted funds Restrlcted funds Uabllltles Independent Examinatlon fee 350 350 350 350 350 350

York Prlde (Charity Number: 1154441) Notes to the Accounts for the year ended: 31 August 2024 Basis of accounts The Trustees have taken advantage of sectlon 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 and prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis. roval Accounts for the ar ended: 31Au ust 2024 The report and accounts were approved at a meeting of the Trustees held on: 20106/2025 Date 2010612025 Sl8ned for and on behalf of the Trustees Date Greg Stephenson Chalr Prlnt Name Posltlon (e.8. Chalr etc)

York Pride (Charlty Number: 1154441) Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity Accounts Independent Examination Services

York Pride (Charlty Number: 1154441) Contents Index Page Independent Examiner's Report Receipts & Payments Accounts Statement of Assets and Llablllties Notes to the Accounts