**T H E P I N K F E S T I V A L G R O U P T R U S T E E ’ S A N N U A L R E T U R N 2 0 2 3**
Registered Charity No. 1163298.
## **W E L C O M E T O O U R 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T**
## LOUD PROUD Unstoppable
**As a charity aligning to our charity objectives we continued to support isolated, excluded and discriminated communities which are key to our aims. This was achieved by delivery of Cambridge Pride 2023.**
Cambridge Pride 2023 was a vibrant celebration of diversity, inclusivity, and community spirit. Held on June 17th at Jesus Green, the event featured a colorful parade, live performances, and various activities designed to engage and entertain attendees of all ages.
This is the third Cambridge Pride event which continues to expand year on year and gain more engagement with the local community.
## _**Gordon Bateman**_
_Chair of the Cambridge Pride Working Group_
## CElebraTe
**Fun, safe, diverse, entertaining**
INvolve **Open, inclusive, accessible, equal**
WHY PRIDE MATTERS **Our vision and values** INspire
**Unique, creative, challenging, awareness-raising**
## **O U R O B J E C T I V E S A N D A C T I V I T I E S**
## ~~**Improving health and wellbeing**~~
Clearly, by helping people access support for a range of needs there is personal benefit to them and their families. These benefits include reduced isolation, improved health and increased income from employment. This benefit is incidental to the wider public benefit and, indeed, a necessary prerequisite to the realisation of the benefits to LGBT+ people and the public our organisation aims to achieve.
## ~~**Providing opportunities for communities to come together and to bring about change**~~
The charity’s events aim to bring large groups of people together to help build tolerance and understanding of the things that make us all different.
This is ‘gay pride’ for a modern era aiming to build social cohesion. Our unique family-oriented events make a real difference – especially for people living in the rural East of England – by providing a safe, accessible environment that embraces all aspects of diversity including sexuality, race, age and gender.
## ~~**Supporting better employment**~~
Through volunteering, participation and performance, our events can help increase the skills of vulnerable LGBT+ people.
## ~~**Building a stronger voluntary sector in the Cambridgeshire region**~~
We particularly seek to include partners who provide services that meet the needs identified by LGBT+ people in the recent needs assessment, for example health (including mental health), education, safety/crime, employment and tackling bullying and harassment.
We seek feedback from people who attend our events, and the LGBT+ community more widely, to asses which elements they found most helpful, which less so and whether other elements should have been included. Together with the needs assessment and other research evidence, we use that feedback to target specific partners and projects to include within the overall programming for events.
We CreatE safe sPaces where change happens.
## **O U R C H A R I T A B L E P U R P O S E A N D A I M S**
## whY We EXISt
## **To promote equality and diversity** for the benefit of the public, including by:
- the elimination of discrimination in particular on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identification;
**Create a safe environment that brings communities together**
**Offer a fun and diverse experience**
**Provide a variety of entertainment, art and culture**
**Offer access to information and support**
- advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity;
- promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds (in particular in respect of their sexual orientation or gender identification); and
- cultivating a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity.
**Offer meaningful opportunities to be involved**
**Be successful, sustainable and supported**
## **To promote social inclusion** for the benefit of the public, by:
preventing people from becoming excluded (particularly as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identification), relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded (particularly as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identification) and assisting them to integrate into society.
**Raise awareness and promote acceptance by challenging stereotypes**
**Be visible throughout each year (beyond one-off events) and leave a legacy**
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**----- End of picture text -----**
## **O U R S T A K E H O L D E R S**
## ~~**Our benefciaries**~~
The Pink Festival Group engages with a wide range of stakeholders, many of whom benefit from our activities.
## The **LGBTQ+ communities** in
- Cambridgeshire are the focus of our charitable aims. We primarily deliver benefits to people who are not hetrosexual and/or cisgender.
## **Charitable and non-governmental**
- **organisations** are supported by us to multiply the positive impacts on LGBTQ+ people throughtout the year.
- In reaching people within the **general public** , no matter their sexuality or gender identity, we are helping to change perceptions and build acceptance.
## ~~**Other external stakeholders**~~
## ~~**Our internal stakeholders**~~
## ~~**Cambridge Pride working group**~~
- Without funding from generous **corporate sponsors** , Cambridge Pride would not take place each year.
- **Grant funders** provide additional, restricted funds to deliver specific event aspects.
- As a registered charity, we report our aims, activities and outcomes on an annual basis, in line with the requirements of the **charity commission** .
- Our **board of trustees and long-term volunteers** ensure the success of the charity and its projects.
- Our **project working groups** deliver our projects and events, such as Cambridge Pride. Each working group is briefed by the Pink Festival Group and reports back on progress and outcomes. Some working group team members are also trustees. The charity remains ultimately accountable.
The working group was established prior to delivering the first Cambridge Pride event in 2019. SInce then, the team of volunteers continues to grow and are engaged with each year’s project for up to 12 months.
The team is responsible for nurturing and maintaining relationships with project-specific stakeholders as shown in the diagram above.
## 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
## Inputs
**Corporate sponsorship Grant and award funding Fundraising and collections Hundreds of volunteer hours**
## ThE evenT
**A successful 12-hour-long Pride festival event in the centre of Cambridge city, including a Friday night Cabaret event curated by local arts colective Club Urania**
## Outcomes
**A full programme of activities across multiple stages, also providing a platform for local and national charities supporting LGBTQ+ people in Cambridgeshire**
**More than 120 artists and performers Eight distinct event areas** a huGE **Delivering our** sucCesS!
**Delivering our charitable aims**
## **O U R 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T**
## ~~**Our focus: Cambridge Pride 2023**~~
In 2023, we focussed on improving on the second Cambridge Pride event.
The overall goal of Cambridge Pride is to fulfil all of the charities aims by providing a diverse range of accessible
entertainment, activities and information to many thousands of people in a safe space. Cambridge Pride is our key tool for delivering our charitable aims and we see this strategy being retained for years to come.
## ~~**Defning the Cambridge Pride event**~~
There are a few simple factors we consider when shaping the event.
- Our charitable aims
- Our previous decades of experience running large-scale, outdoor LGBTQ+ events in Cambridge
- Our team’s capacity
- The feedback we receive from stakeholders
- The available budget
- Community Engagement
- Listening to stakeholder feedback
**Pride sits at the heart of ARU’s values, and we are delighted to once again be partnering with Cambridge Pride for this year’s event.**
**At ARU we are proud to provide an inclusive, supportive environment in which to work and study. We have a vibrant LGBTQ+ staff and student community, and we are looking forward to celebrating our diversity at [the] event.”**
## _**Professor Roderick Watkins**_
_Vice Chancellor, Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Cambridge Pride title sponsor_
## **O U R 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T**
As well as our own observations during the veent, we reviewed the feedback we received via online forms & social media. This helped us to improve plans for our next event which include
- Additional welfare facilities
- sensory requirements
- Sensitivity regarding future sponsorship selection
- Provide a city centre parade that all attendees can take part in
## ~~**Funding is crucial and is becoming**~~ **harder all the time**
the event to ensure that we are covering our charitable aims but are also putting on a financially viable event. Committing to sponsor Cambridge pride earlier means we can plan a larger scale event without putting the charity at risk.
## ~~**Event planning and governance**~~
We spend the whole year planning the event which includes mapping out the event areas, sourcing suppliers, booking entertainment and marketing the event to the public. Our team has specific roles and responsibilities for the required activities.
## ~~**Accessibility and inclusivity**~~
A key focus while planning and delivering the event is naturally to ensure it is accessible for all and that our visitors and other stakeholders feel welcome.
It is also very important to us that Cambridge Pride provides a platform for both established and upcoming queer performers. Because of this, we aimed - and succeeded - in ensuring this event consisted of the vast majority of acts coming from within the LGBTQ+ community.
## **O U R 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T**
## ~~**Volunteering opportunities on event day**~~
As the event grows we rely more and more on Volunteers to help the day run smoothly. Without the committment from these Super Stars, we would not be able to provide a safe and well organised event.
Recruiting new volunteers is a year round task and this can be a fun way to get to meet new people or gain new skills.
It's also a way to get to know the working group before making the jump to join the Pride committee full time!
## **Gordon Bateman**
_Chair of the Cambridge Pride Working Group Trustee of the Pink Festival Group Head of Programming Community Lead_
## ~~**Working group members**~~
In addition to our Volunteers on event day, we also rely heavily on our working group to keep the financial, infrastructure planning and implementation of the event going throughout the year.
These members commit to regular meetings and go out into the wider world to secure funding and negotiate contracts.
If you or anyone you know might like to join us please register your interest at : https://cambridgepride.co.uk/contact/
**Cambridge Pride gave us the opportunity to directly connect with the community we broadcast for. It’s been an unforgettable day and it’s amazing to see so many people coming together to protest and celebrate. It makes us immensely proud to support such a great, inclusive and professional organisation.”**
## _**Eugenio Ceriello**_
_GlitterBeam Radio Official Media Partner, 2022 and 2023_
**O U R 2 0 2 3 R E P O R T**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
J E S U S G R E E N
SITE HQ
DANCE
TENT ACCREDITATION
GREEN
TOILETS ROOM
MAIN
ROOFTOP PARADE STAGE
BAR START
END
LGBTQ+
YOUTH & FAMILIES HISTORY CAFÉ INFO HUB
TOILETS
COMMUNITY ART
WELLBEING WORKSHOP
AREA
J E S U S G R E E N COMMUNITY
HIVE
RIVER CAM
CHESTERTON ROAD
STALLS
FOOD&DRINK
DE
PARK PARA
**----- End of picture text -----**
## ~~**Building on the success of Cambridge**~~ **Pride 2022**
An estimated 8,000 people attended Cambridge Pride 2023. The event is not gated or ticketed and is therefore free and accessible for the general public to attend.
## **Main Stage**
In 2023, the Main Stage hosted a varied lineup of over twenty six acts, ranging from solo performers to a large community choir. The audience was treated to a wide selection of entertainment, including comedy, dance, vocal performances, punk rock bands, country music, afro-pop, and drag artists. Additionally, a well known performer and more than 65 performers from the LGBTQ+ spectrum, along with supportive allies, showcased their talents, delighting thousands in attendance.
## **Parade**
In 2023, we held our second parade in the park which circled Jesus Green, for all to participate in. Over 1,250 walked and wheeled, led by a local samba band.
## **Community Hive**
In 2023, the Community Hive brought together more than 50 local and national LGBTQ+ organizations, surpassing the 30 present in 2022. It provided a special platform for these groups to connect with LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and other community members seeking support or information. This gathering fostered meaningful interactions and furthered understanding within the local community.
Moreover, a diverse array of local artists delighted the audience with poetry, sign language, music, humor, and performance art, adding an extra sprinkle of entertainment!
The event offered more than just entertainment. It provided a platform for crucial discussions on disability and the LGBTQ+ community, amplifying the voices of a group whose experiences are frequently disregarded, particularly in matters of gender and sexuality.
## **Dance Tent**
The 2023 Dance Tent featured an inclusive lineup of talented djs from the local area and beyond. This year was an excellent
opportunity to showcase a widely diverse lineup, including a high profile Muslim drag queen, two transgender djs and a reality tv star personality as the headliner, as well as supporting local emerging djs from across the LGBTQ+ community. Along with the great display of diversity throughout, there was a widely eclectic range of musical styles enjoyed immensely by all attendees.
## **Wellbeing Tent**
In response to the higher than average mental health issues and suicide rates among the LGBTQ+ community, we are taking proactive steps to promote wellness. At Cambridge Pride, individuals had the opportunity to freely participate in various enriching sessions offered by Satyam Yoga Centre, such as mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, and therapy taster sessions.
## **The Youth & Families Tent**
The Youth & Families Tent supported children and young people up to the age of 25 and their families. It was a sober space with a ban on alcoholic beverages.
Well respected Cambridgeshire charity, The Kite Trust, programmed the space created by young people for young people.
There were opportunities to get creative, connect with peers, and find out more about the wide range of opportunities, support and services available to LGBTQ+ children and young people in Cambridge.
## **Community Art Tent**
The Community Art Tent provided a creative space for visitors to get involved, with several art workshops hosted throughout the day with free materials. The pre-parade workshop allowed those hoping to attend the parade to prepare by making masks and banners with local artist. Workshops hosted throughout the day included a Polari workshop (Danny De La Motte) and reflective community workshop (Hilary Cox Condron) and craft skills (Finn Yvo). There was also a space for acoustic performers and spoken word poets.
This giant artwork was led by a local artist and created by attendees of Cambridge Pride 2022.
## **A B O U T T H I S R E P O R T**
## **Our charity**
**Charity name:** The Pink Festival Group
Registered in England as a Charitable incorporated organisation No. CE004417 and a Registered Charity No. 1163298.
**Address:** Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8UG
## **Structure, governance and management**
**Type of governing document:** Constitution
## **How the charity is constituted:**
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
**Trustee selection methods:** Appointed by board
## **Our trustees**
The following board of trustees managed the charity during this period.
Paul Hyde Clarke Chair Adam Olivant Secretary Alistair Wilson Board member Gordon Bateman Board member Robert Ferguson Board member Paul Owens Board member Deborah Luxon Board member
##
charity named ‘The Pink Festival Group’ (a charitable organisation responsible for running the event known as Cambridge Pride), for the financial year 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022.
There are no custodian trustees, advisers to the board, chief executives or senior staff members.
**Across the day in 2022 we welcomed an estimated** CAMBRIDGE PRIDE IN NUMBERS **In a post-event online survey of visitors in 2019, the 250 people who responded told us…** 10,000 VIsitorS 2.9% 60-65 2.5% under 16 The vast majority TrAvel travelled less than SExualitY and GEnder 25 miles 32.2% 16-25 10. 6% TrAnsGender 25.2% 40-59 OuR 2022 foLlOwerS 19% StrAigHt AGe 44.5% LEsbian/GAy 16.6% BIsexuAL 39.7% 26-39 8. 9% QUeeR **3.5K 1.3K 2.5K** 1% 6.PAnsexuaL 1.6% PrEfer noT TO say 3.2% OTher 57.6% FOund ouT by... EMployMent 38.7% **Our 2022 event was broadcast** 55.8% FUll tIMe **live on air all day, reaching** 3.7% 14.7% 14.2% paRT TIME 2.7% HOmemakeR 6. 5% NOt IN paid EMPlOYMeNt 40,000 18.1% StUdenT TIme sPent At priDe 2.7% REtired LIsteneRs
## 10,000 VIsitorS
**Our 2022 event was broadcast live on air all day, reaching**
40,000
LIsteneRs
## **w w w . c a m b r i d g e p r i d e . c o . u k**
The Pink Festival Group is registered in England as a Charitable incorporated organisation No. CE004417 and a Registered Charity No. 1163298. Registered Office: Office A, The Marlborough Club, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8UG
||The Pink Festival Group|The Pink Festival Group|||Charity No
(if any)|1163298||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Annual accounts for the|||period||||
||Period start date|01/01/2023|**To**||Period end
date|31/12/2023||
|**Section A**|**Statement of financial activities**|||||||
||Charity No
(if any)
1163298
Period start date
01/01/2023
**To**
Period end
date
31/12/2023
The Pink Festival Group
Annual accounts for the period|Charity No
(if any)
1163298
Period start date
01/01/2023
**To**
Period end
date
31/12/2023
The Pink Festival Group
Annual accounts for the period|
|---|---|---|
||||
|**Section A**|**Statement of financial activities**||
|**Recommended categories by**
**activity**
Guidance Notes
**Incoming resources (Note 3)**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
S01
Charitable activities
S02
Other trading activities
S03
Investments
S04
Fundraising
S05
Other
S06
S07
**Resources expended (Note 6)**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
S08
Activity Costs
S09
Salaries and Associated Costs
S09
IT and Communication Costs
S09
Property and Office Costs
S09
Finance Costs
S09
Governance Costs
S09
Separate material item of expense
S10
Other
S11
S12
S13
Net gains/(losses) on investments
S14
S15
**Extraordinary items**
S16
S17
S18
Other gains/(losses)
S19
S20
**_Reconciliation of funds:_**
S21
S22
1
**_Total_**
**_Net movement in funds_**
Total funds brought forward
**_Total funds carried forward_**
**_Total_**
**Net income/(expenditure) before investment**
**gains/(losses)**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Other recognised gains/(losses):**
Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use||**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total funds**
**Prior year**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
F01
F02
F03
F04
F05
19,976
-
19,976
20,862
78,691
-
78,691
51,686
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|||-
98,667
-
98,667
72,548|
|||518
-
518
59
84
83,444
-
83,528
69,473
1,490
-
1,490
155
236
325
-
561
352
40
15
-
55
-
483
220
-
703
485
2,804
-
2,804
2,384
-
-
-
-
-
886
-
-
886
-|
|||1,729
88,816
-
90,545
72,908|
||||
|||1,729
-
9,851
-
8,122
360
-|
|||-
-
-
-
-|
|||1,729
-
9,851
-
8,122
360
-|
|||-
-
-
-
-
1,360
1,360
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|||369
-
8,491
-
8,122
360
-|
|||7,683
236
-
7,919
8,279|
|||7,314
8,727
-
16,041
7,919|
||||
CC17a (Excel)
13/12/2025
1
## **Section B Balance sheet**
|**Fixed assets**
**Intangible assets (Note 15)**
**Tangible assets (Note 14)**
**Heritage assets (Note 16)**
**Investments (Note 17)**
**_Total fixed assets_**
**Current assets**
**Stocks (Note 18)**
**Debtors (Note 19)**
**Investments (Note 17.4)**
**Cash at bank and in hand (Note 24)**
**_Total current assets_**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year (Note 20)**
**_Net current assets/(liabilities)_**
**_Total assets less current liabilities_**
**Creditors: amounts falling due after**
**one year (Note 20)**
**Provisions for liabilities**
**_Total net assets or liabilities_**
**Funds of the Charity**
**Endowment funds (Note 27)**
**Restricted income funds (Note 27)**
**Unrestricted funds**
**Revaluation reserve**
**_Total funds_**
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all
the trustees|Guidance Notes
B01
B02
B03
B04
B05
B06
B07
B08
B09
B10
B11
B12
B13
B14
B15
B16
B17
B18
B19
B20
B21
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
F01
-
-
-
-|
**Restricted**
**income**
**funds**
**£**
F02
-
-
-
-|**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total this**
**year**
**£**
**£**
F03
F04
- -
- -
- -
- -|**Total last**
**year**
**£**
F05
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||-|-|- -|-|
|||-
-
7,664|-
2,263
-
7,469|- -
- 2,263
- -
- 15,133|-
-
-
8,269|
|||7,664|9,732|- 17,396|8,269|
||||||350|
|||350|1,005|- 1,355||
|||||||
|||7,314|8,727|- 16,041|7,919|
|||||||
|||7,314|8,727|**-**16,041|7,919|
||||||-
-|
||||-
-|- -
- -||
|||||||
|||7,314|8,727|-
16,041|7,919|
|||-
7,314|8,727|-
8,727
- 7,314
-|-
-
7,919|
|||7,314|8,727|- 16,041|7,919|
|||Signature||Print Name
Gordon Bateman|Date of
approval
dd/mm/yyyy
08/01/25|
CC17a (Excel)
13/12/2025
2
**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
|**Report to the trustees**
**On accounts for the year**
**ended**|The Pink Festival Group CIO|
|---|---|
|||
||31stDecember 2023
**Charity no**
**(if any)**
1163298|
|||
||See accompanying Independent Examination Checklist with Notes and
Recommendations|
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2023.
**Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters 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.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Date:** 13/12/2025 **Signed: Name:** Judith Dartnell **Relevant professional** MBA **qualification(s) or body (if any):**
**Address:** 75 Argyle Street Cambridge CB1 3LS
1
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2