Colchester Pride Annual Trustee Report 2021 (January 2021- November 2021)
2021 has proven to be a very important year for Colchester Pride. After operating for several years as a community organisation run by various committees of volunteers, we were thrilled to start the year as a registered CIO. This has certainly been a very challenging year and, whilst we have had to alter many of our plans due to the ongoing situation with Covid, we are very pleased that we have managed to adapt our provision and still delivered a programme of exciting, inclusive events to help our community thrive.
Our committee
We have had a few changes to the team over the past few months, losing a couple of trustees including one of our longest standing members, all of whom have moved on to focus on their own lives and careers. We certainly need to grow the team, but we feel we are in a strong place where everyone has a clear, defined role and portfolio of responsibilities. We have plans to grow Colchester Pride in quite a big way over the coming months which will require a few more hands. Thankfully, we have already had expressions of interest from some local community members. We are currently in need of specific roles filling, such as treasurer (currently our chair is acting treasurer) but feel confident that these can be filled.
Our Projects
Creative Community Project
Our first major community project this year was our Creative Community Project. After successfully gaining funding from Metro and Comic Relief in late 2020, we launched a series of free, accessible online and in-person workshops in a variety of creative disciplines. The project was in something of a state of flux throughout the delivery of it, due to the ever changing situation with covid. We had originally planned the project to primarily be in-person, but due to restrictions much of our output had to be moved online. The project also had something of an end goal, with the creative work feeding into our proposed Pride march at our main festival. We eventually had to (sadly) drop this element of the event due to safety concerns. Still, the project as a whole was a success and our funders told us they were impressed with what we achieved. The Creative Community Project broke down into the following areas/projects:
Dance with Pride
We worked with a new Colchester based dance company, Movement Space, to deliver online and in person dance workshops for all abilities, and in a variety of styles. These workshops encouraged participants to stay active and expressive, particularly during periods of lockdown.
Pride Printing Workshop
Colchester based artist Katie Kennedy delivered 2 workshops (one for adults, one for families) where participants learnt print making techniques and went home with a bag, t-shirt and tea towel of their own design.
Creative Writing Workshops
We engaged with local writer James McDermott to deliver a series of online creative writing workshops focusing on four area; poetry, playwriting, screenwriting and radio writing.
Marvellous Muppet Making
Puppeteer Rebecca Buckle delivered a fun workshop in muppet making, in which the participants created their own original drag queen/king muppet character!
Werq in Progress Drag Competition
This was a longer, more in depth project. We asked local aspiring drag artists to apply to be a part of ‘Werq in Progress’, a drag competition (the only one of it’s kind in the area) through which they would be mentored and supported by professional drag artists. We selected 12 people who were given advice on make up, costumes and performance with a view to showcasing their talents at a live performance event in June. Each participant was given an allocated budget to get them started so they could purchase makeup etc. Unfortunately, despite having a date booked and venue we had to cancel when restrictions were reintroduced. We are now holding the event in late November 2021 and look forward to platforming new talent in our town!
We feel proud that the Creative Community Project was very successful and achieved our goals of reducing social isolation, creating spaces for people to meet and learn new skills, platforming local LGBTQ+ creatives, and encouraging new artists to engage with the community. Despite having to change our plans constantly in line with Covid restrictions, we feel that the project was still able to make a positive and lasting impact on the community.
Pride Festival 2021
Our main project each year is of course our big Pride festival in the summer. This year, our event took place on Saturday 28[th] August at our partner venue, Firstsite. It was certainly a bumpy road getting there, and there were many times that we thought we would likely have to cancel the event due to ongoing changes in Covid restrictions. Up until just a few weeks before we really didn’t know if we would be able to go ahead and feared that we would need to cancel for the second year running. Thankfully, we were able to hold the event and, due to so much of it taking place outside, we felt able to do it safely and in line with Covid safety measures.
We are thrilled to say that the event was hugely popular and we believe provided a much needed day for the community after so much time apart. It was a truly moving experience for the committee to see so many people, of all ages and backgrounds, dancing together, making new friends, connecting with local support services, and enjoying the sense of freedom and safety that we as a
Pride event always aim to provide. Even when the heavens opened, our guests happily danced in the rain.
It was a very special day, but we are of course very reflective and critical of our own work and have many ideas to improve the event for 2022.
Big Camp Cabaret
The main Pride event was followed by a cabaret at Colchester Arts Centre (another partner, and a beautiful venue who agreed that our community could attend on a ‘pay what you can afford’ basis to help with costs at this difficult time). This was another big success and allowed us the opportunity to showcase local LGBTQ+ artists and performers, in line with our artistic policy.
World AIDS Day
We are currently working with Mercury Theatre, The OutHouse, Terrance Higgins Trust and METRO to organise an evening of remembrance for World AIDS Day on 01/12/21. Our town’s landmark buildings will be lit red, and an evening of performances, speeches and reflection will take place at Mercury. This will also be an opportunity for people in the community to access local support services.
As Covid restrictions (hopefully) ease, we aim to provide an exciting programme of events on 2022, offering opportunities for folk of different ages, identities and backgrounds to engage with their community.
Working with Local Partners
Mercury Theatre
This year we have successfully developed a mutually supportive relationship with Mercury Theatre and have worked closely with them on a variety of projects.
In February, we created a series of resources for LGBTQ+ History Month that Mercury made available to the local schools and colleges that they work with. In the same month, our chair Dan Deller-Thompson was asked to host an LGBTQ+ focused version of their regular ‘Connects’ meeting, which is an online forum where creatives can share ideas, talk to working professionals and meet potential new collaborators. This was a huge success and we were told it had the biggest turnout of any Connects meeting up to that point. We were also asked to suggest names of local LGBTQ+ creatives to host an online masterclass, which again was a big success.
Mercury are keen to work closely with us moving forward and we have had a promise from them that they will create more opportunities for the local LGBTQ+ community including programming in LGBTQ+-centric shows, creating safe spaces for the community and supporting local artists through artistic development projects such as their Lates programme. This is really wonderful and we are very grateful to them for their support. The staff team also volunteered at our main festival in the summer, helping us run our stages and greet our guests, which was hugely appreciated. We are currently working towards our World AIDS Day event collaboration for December which we hope will be an annual event.
The OutHouse
We continue to work closely with our local LGBTQ+ support charity, The OutHouse. Our two organisations compliment each other to provide a rounded provision of support and opportunities for the community. We volunteer at each other’s events, collaborate on resources, and OutHouse continues to offer us space to meet, plan and host our activities.
Other
We are really pleased that Colchester as a town is slowly becoming more and more supportive of Pride, and therefore more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community here. We have found that many venues are now interested in hosting LGBTQ+ nights and had 4 different venues requesting that they host after parties. We have seen an increase in local shops and businesses displaying Pride flags or offering discounts on Pride weekend. We are pleased that the work we are doing is starting to be seen and this is in turn generating opportunities and spaces for our community.
Funding
We feel very fortunate that, thanks to the efforts of our volunteer fundraising officer Keith Larkin, we were able to secure funding to make our main event and ancillary events happen this year. We received £10k form the Lotto community fund, £1500 from Colchester Borough Council and £1950 from Colchester Business Improvement District. It is our hope and aim that we can continue to secure funding for next year’s events so that we can grow our output significantly.
Looking Forward
We are very pleased with how our projects went this year, given the difficulties we faced. We know that we are making a difference in people’s lives, and indeed to Colchester as a tow, and we will continue to work hard to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and fight prejudice.
To do this our main aims for the coming year are:
-Grow the committee to introduce new skill sets into the team and help deliver projects
-Create an exciting, accessible and inclusive programme of events for the community
-Continue to build successful partnerships that will help us create opportunities for the community
Colchester Pride Accounts (13[th] January 2021 to 13[th] November 2021)
Totals
| INCOME | £23,259.26 |
|---|---|
| OUTGOINGS | £17,127.27 |
Income by Type
| Income by Type | |
|---|---|
| Donations via Fundraising (including Amazon smile,Paypal Giving,Essex Lotteryetc) |
£2,243,82 |
| Fundingand Sponsorship | £13,600 |
| Vendorpayments | £1,205 |
| Pride ’21 Ticket Sales | £5,631.32 |
Funding Breakdown
| Funding Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Lotto CommunityFund | £10,000 |
| Colchester Borough Council | £1500 |
| Colchester BID | £1950 |
Outgoings (main areas)
| Outgoings (main areas) | |
|---|---|
| Website and email hosting | £564.67 |
| Communityengagementprojects | £3335.13 |
| Subscriptions(Adobe,Zoom) | £441.90 |
| Pride ’21 performers/artists and associated costs |
£6,429.87 |
| Pride ’21 Festival Running costs (insurance, venue hire,security, photographyetc) |
£5,390.06 |
| Marketingandprinted media | £428.31 |
2021 Monthly Breakdown
| INCOME | OUTGOINGS |
|---|---|
| JANUARY | |
| 22/01- Lotto grant- £10,000 TOTAL £10,000 |
19/01- IONOS- £12 19/01- Weebly- £13 TOTAL £25 |
| FEBRUARY | |
| 02/02- Essex Lotto- £4 TOTAL- £4 |
10/02- IONOS- £2.40 17/02-IONOS- £12 TOTAL- £14.40 |
| MARCH | |
| 02/03- Essex Lotto- £4 09/03- Square (ticket sales)- £9.80 10/03- Square- £3.92 16/03- Square- £1.96 22/03- Colchester Council Grant- £1500 22/03- Square- £9.81 23/03- Square- £1.94 25/03- Square- £11.77 26/03- Square- £23.53 29/03- Square- £49.03 29/03- Square- £3.93 TOTAL- £1,619.69 |
05/03- Weebly- £216 12/03- IONOS- £2.40 17/03- IONOS- £36 22/03- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £60 24/03- Asttina Mandela Deposit- £200 24/03- ABBA Magic Deposit- £200 31/03- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £30 TOTAL- £744.40 |
| APRIL | |
| 06/04- Square- £59.85 07/04- Essex Lotto- £5 07/04- Square- £5.88 08/04- Square- £5.89 12/04- Square- £11.77 14/04- Square- £17.66 15/04- Square- £5.89 20/04- Donation (Jean Akam for ABBA Magic)- £1400 22/04- Square- £2.94 23/04- Square- £17.66 27/04- Square- £2.94 28/04- Square- £2.94 29/04- Square- £2.94 TOTAL- £1541.36 |
10/04- Zoom account- £143.88 12/07- IONOS- £2.40 19/04- IONOS- £36 19/04- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £60 28/04- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £60 TOTAL- £302.28 |
| MAY | |
| 04/05- Square- £5.89 04/05- Square- £5.89 04/05- Square- £5.89 11/05-Essex Lottery- £4 19/05- Square- £11.76 |
11/05- IONOS- £2.40 11/04- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £60 11/04- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £30 18/05- IONOS- £36 27/05- J. Prestney (Dance Workshop)- £160 |
| 20/05- Square- £11.77 TOTAL- £45.20 |
TOTAL- £288.40 |
|---|---|
| JUNE | |
| 11/06- Essex Lottery- £5 11.06- Square- £11.77 16/06- Rapid Electronics Sponsorship- £150 17/06- Square- £8.83 22/06- Square- £5.89 24/06- Square- £5.89 TOTAL- £187.38 |
06/06- J. McDermott Writing Workshop- £70 07/06- J. McDermott Writing Workshop- £70 10/06-IONOS- £2.40 12/06- Drag workshop expenses- £55.95 13/06- J. Prestney (Dance Workshops)- £90 16/06- Firstsite Workshop space hire- £480 16/06- B Powell, WIP Drag Mentor- £150 16/06- L Kirby, WIP Drag Mentor- £150 16/06- J Chandler, WIP Drag Mentor- £150 17/06- IONOS- £36 20/06- S Green, WIP Drag Expenses- £65 20/06- B Powell WIP Drag Expenses- £24.29 20/06- S Joseph, WIP Drag Expenses- £93 20/06- J. Prestney (Dance Workshops)- £60 20/06- D Finch WIP Drag Expenses- £50.65 27/06- J. Prestney (Dance Workshops)- £60 28/06- K Kennedy Print Workshops- £407.86 28/06- R Buckle Puppet Workshops- £595.49 29/06- Firstsite refreshments- £7.60 30/06- B Clarke WIP Drag Expenses- £42.50 30/06- M Young WIP Drag Expenses- £35.50 TOTAL- £2,696.24 |
| JULY | |
| 09/07- Essex Lott- £4 14/07- Louise Redif (Vendor)- £35 15/07- Glitzy Gifts (Vendor)- £45 15/07- VX Fiber (Vendor)- £90 16/07- CWU Union (Vendor)- £45 17/07- Stephanie Bon (Vendor)-£45 28/07- Terrance Higgins Trust (Vendor)- £35 28/07- World of Rainbow (Vendor)- £90 28/07- Angela Shine (Vendor)- £45 29/07- Colchester Labour (Vendor)- £45 TOTAL- £479 |
01/07- D Finch WIP Drag Expenses- £37.29 05/07- Spreadshirt (T-shirts)- £317.74 12/07- IONOS- £2.07 19/07- IONOS- £36 TOTAL- £393.10 |
| AUGUST | |
| 03/08- Colchester Green Party- £90 10/08- Essex Lotto- £4 12/08- Whip it like Webber (Vendor)- £125 12/08- Refugee Action (Vendor)- £30 15/08- J Arnold (Vendor)- £45 17/08- Amazon Smile- £5.99 19/08- Penns Food(Vendor)- £125 |
02/08- Clifford, Brown and Grimsey (Insurance)- £784 04/08- King Leon Entertainment- £51 06/08- Instant Print- £64.99 06/08- Instant Print- £111.00 09/08- J Chandler, Drag Story Books- £29.27 10/08- IONOS- £2.40 |
| 19/08- Colchester Conservatives (Vendor)- £45 19/08- Colchester Lib Dems (Vendor)- £35 19/08- J Burt (Vendor)- £35 20/08- University of Essex (Vendor)- £35 20/08- Essex Wildlife Trust- £35 23/08- R Monk (Vendor)- £90 25/08- C Joyce (Vendor)- £30 25/08- Claire Benham (Vendor)- £45 26/08- Medical Detection Dogs (Vendor)- £35 28/08- Cash ticket Sales- £792 28/08- Cash donations- £121.92 31/08- Outsavvy (tickets)- £3949.50 31/08- Sum up (tickets)- £564.19 TOTAL- £6,237.60 |
11/08- Firstsite Hire- £321.60 11/08- Capal Plant Hire (Toilet Hire)- £246 16/08- Instant Print- £36.99 17/08- IONOS- £36 17/08- DDT Expenses (Flags purchase)- £34.89 17/08- B Powell Expenses (DBS)- £23 17/08- I Kriauciunaite (event photography)- £100 21/08- B Powell expenses- £53.60 23/08- Discount Stickers Printing- £31.49 23/08- PLRS Stage Hire- £2,300 25/08- Fantasia Music (ABBA Magic)- £1200 26/08- CKB (Lanyards)- £43.37 26/08- AA Wristbands- £79.60 27/08- Instant Print- £19.44 27/08- Instant Print- £19.44 27/08- Instant Print- £21.99 31/08- B Powell (Performer/host)- £175 31/08- S Cramer (Performer)- £75 31/08- J Chandler (Performer)- £250 31/08 King Leon Entertainment (Performer)- £204 31/08- J Prestney (Performer)- £244 TOTAL- £6,558.07 |
|---|---|
| SEPTEMBER | |
| 01/09- Sum Up (tickets)- £502.24 02/09- Sum Up- £6.88 15/09- Essex Lotto- £5 27/09- Colchester BID Funding Support- £1950 Paypal Giving Fund (from birthday fundraisers) - £628.60 |
01/09- N Toorabally (Performer)- £170 01/09- George Lester (Performer)- £100 01/09- P T Davies(Performer)- £75 01/09- Jordan(Performer) Gray- £250 02/09- Square- £20.60 04/09- R Mir (Performer)- £100 04/09- Simon Craze (Performer)- £75 04/09- E R Day (Performer)- £170 06/09- J Saiz (Performer)- £75 06/09- L Carlile (Performer)- £50 06/09- L Kirby (Performer)- £150 06/09- J Young (Performer)- £150 06/09- E Woolf (Performer)- £85 06/09- D Vincent (Performer)- £40 06/09- E Christofi (Performer)- £150 06/09- V Weaver (Performer)- £75 06/09- Ta Dah (Performer)- £40 10/09- IONOS- £2.40 14/09- KJ Simmonds (Performer)- £235 14/09- FR Reid (Performer)- £100 14/09- D A Gooding (Performer/host)-£150 14/09- Lee Bennet (Performer-The Vison)- £350 14/09- E Johnston Expenses (Volunteers)- £114.06 |
| TOTAL- £3,092.72 | 17/09- IONOS- £36 20/09- L Hargrave (Performer)- £235 30/09- Independent Talent (Beautiful Thing Rights)- £180 TOTAL- £3,178.06 |
|---|---|
| OCTOBER | |
| 05/10- Essex Lotto- £4 TOTAL- £4 |
01/10- M Hunt (Performer)- £50 01/10- R Buckle (Performer)- £50 12/10- IONOS £2.40 15/10- Adobe Creative Cloud Subs- £298.02 19/10- IONOS- £36 19/10- Oak Park (Security Service)- £1438.50 22/10- A Joshua (Performer- Asttina)- £800 24/10- A J Stephenson Promo Video- £250 TOTAL- £2,924.92 |
| NOVEMBER | |
| 04/11- Easy Fundraising- £43.31 10/11- Essex Lotto- £5 TOTAL- £48.31 |
10/11- IONOS- £2.40 TOTAL- £2.40 |