## **Exmouth Pride (Charity Number: 1205352)** ## **Chair’s Annual Report (Written by David Marston)** ## **Submitted for the AGM on October 15 2024** - 1) After a recruitment drive, Exmouth Pride officially welcomed five new members to the Committee, in September 2023, doubling the size of the team. They brought with them a brilliant range of skills and energy which helped make the 2024 Exmouth Pride event the easiest to manage of recent years – that is despite seeing our biggest crowds ever. A huge thankyou to them and to all involved in bringing Exmouth Pride 2024 to fruition. - 2) Exmouth Pride 2024 took place on Saturday June 22 in the town’s Manor Gardens, running from 11am-6.30pm. This annual celebration is our core event and despite breaks for Covid is now in its 10[th] year. - 3) For the first time, we used counter clickers and computer software to give us a better estimate of the number of visitors. Counting on the hour, we believe we peaked at around 4.30-5pm with just over 1,500 attendees. We were blessed with good weather (19/20 degrees C) which helped. - 4) This was a record year for Community Involvement which was brilliant. Our new sustainable Rainbow Entrance was created by the Yarn Bombers and Exmouth Men’s Shed along with Guillotine Yarners. Also, Exmouth Community Facebook, the Deaf Academy, Centre Stage, Exmouth Town Council, Town Crier and Mayor of Exmouth Roger Bourgin and Joe Whibley, Exmouth Community College and The Hive were involved this year. Also many charity shops in the town decorated their windows. - 5) From the stage, our hosts Ashley Jeary and Arina Fox used their platform to advocate and inform as well as entertain. There were interviews with representatives from the Intercom Trust and Amnesty International as well as other local organisations involved in LGBT+ Advocacy. - 6) We had a larger crowd than usual but we had professional on site security and first aid teams with plenty of capacity as well as additional toilet facilities and were well within official Purple Guide guidelines in all these areas. - 7) Volunteering was much Improved including the return of the IKEA team. We always note a shortfall of volunteers from around 4pm. Some individuals did not turn up as scheduled. Improved committee numbers of informed and wellmotivated people significantly improved outcomes in this traditionally tough area. 1 - 8) The marketplace and food offerings worked well and the Dog Show saw increased attendance. All to be reviewed to look at opportunities for improvements in 2025. - 9) A safeguarding incident was recorded when a man reported he had received an unwanted advance from another man. Two or our committee team looked after him, contacting the police on his behalf and reporting to our security and First Aid teams. The complainant requested no further action. We believe this was dealt with in a positive and supportive manner and will use it to inform our planning for subsequent events. - 10) Again, there was an associated post Pride Afterparty organised by Arina Fox and the Bath House pub which proved popular and successful. - 11) Full details of the event’s costs and income are included in our Financial Report. - 12) We had three banners stolen from the Parade, M&S steps and Marine Way on the early morning of Tuesday June 18 at 2.30am. We obtained CCTV footage from a local business which the police distributed but there was no resolution. The Pride themed Post Box Topper outside the Strand pub in Exmouth was also damaged twice but repaired as part of the Community Trail for Hospiscare. In August 2024, similar thefts occurred with Torbay Pride promotional materials. - 13) In December 2023 we held a Christmas Dinner for the Exmouth Pride Team at the Saddlers in Lympstone. - 14) In February we held an interactive exhibition for LGBT History Month at Exmouth Library with a launch night on Friday February 2. The exhibition was on Section 28 and was created by Dr Hannah Young and Dr Chris SandalWilson from Exeter University. We also showed the film Bros on the same night to make it a social evening. - 15) In October 2023 we changed our charitable status. Exmouth Pride reregistered with the Charity Commission in October 2023 to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Previously we were an Unincorporated Charitable Association. The change was because the Trustees and Committee felt it better fitted our size, structure and financial liabilities. The charitable purposes remain the same. - 16) In September Fi indicated that they were resigning as a Trustee. We acknowledge their contribution with thanks. They might return to the committee. - 17) Currently the Trustees are: David Marston, Collette Eaton Harris and Chris Everall. Trustees are confirmed each year at the AGM. 2 - 18) The Registered Office of Exmouth Pride is: Exmouth Town Hall, St Andrew’s Road, Exmouth EX8 1AW. - 19) Our Bank Account is held at Nat West: 60.08.09. The Exmouth Branch closed on Thursday October 19 2023 and our closest branch is now in Exeter. - 20) The AIM OF EXMOUTH PRIDE IS: THE PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT ACROSS EXMOUTH AND THE SURROUNDING AREA (THE AREA OF BENEFIT) IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT EXCLUSIVELY BY:- (A) PROMOTING AND STAGING AN ANNUAL LGBT FESTIVAL WITH ADDITIONAL SMALLER EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA OF BENEFIT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL LGBT BUSINESS AND VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY; (B) CULTIVATING A SENTIMENT IN FAVOUR OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IN PARTICULAR THROUGH CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT; (C) UNITING THE LGBT COMMUNITY, TOGETHER WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, SO THEY CAN FEEL SAFE, WELCOMED AND PROUD TO BE THEMSELVES AT OUR EVENTS; (D) ADVANCING EDUCATION AND RAISING GENERAL AWARENESS AMONG THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACING THE LIVES OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT; (E) ASSOCIATING WITH VOLUNTARY, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANISATIONS TO DEVELOP AND MAXIMISE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CHARITY FOR LGBT PEOPLE IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT; AND (F) APPLYING CAPITAL OR REVENUE FOR THE BENEFIT OF CHARITIES OR CHARITABLE PROJECTS, THAT SUPPORT THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN THE AREA OF BENEFIT, AS THE TRUSTEES SHALL, IN DULY CONSTITUTED MEETINGS, FROM TIME TO TIME DIRECT]. LGBT STANDS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, AND REFERS TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER RE-ASSIGNMENT, BOTH PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS UNDER THE EQUALITY ACT 2010.' Chair’s Report Ends. 3 ## **Exmouth Pride (Charity Number: 1205352) Treasurer’s Annual Report (Written by Chris Everall) Submitted for the AGM on October 15 2024** 4