‘We want to be open and honest with the community’
Ross Sansom-Parnell (right), West Lothian Pride Chair(Image: Scott Kelly Photography)
The team behind West Lothian Pride have made a desperate plea as the future of the event hangs in the balance. The celebration, which has been held in Livingston since 2015, may be ‘unable to continue’ as funding drops and costs rise.
The event is scheduled to return to Howden Park on July 25, though bosses are fearful for next year’s event. West Lothian Pride Chair, Ross Sansom-Parnell, told Edinburgh Live that many of the sponsors have ‘changed their criteria’ and are funding other causes now.
Ross also said rising costs of putting on an event like West Lothian Pride, combined with their funds dwindling, have led to a ‘scary situation’. Speaking to us on Thursday, Ross said: “This is something that’s happening across pride festivals in the UK. There’s a number of events up and down the country that have been cancelled or completely shut down because the money isn’t out there anymore.
“We’ve never been in this situation before, and now in our 11th year we’re nearly at breaking point. It’s become scary. We want to be open and honest with the community, we’re a very family focused pride. It’s a day they kind of expect every year.
“If we don’t get more cash through we won’t be able to carry on. We do fundraising events but people just don’t have as much cash available anymore, ultimately.”
The team have been posting on social media and asking local companies for sponsorship, though Ross told us they haven’t had much luck. He added: “We’ve gone out on social media and to local companies to see who would sponsor us. We haven’t had much back.
“People who are listed on our site as sponsors, a lot of those are something physical like venue space. Many of the companies who used to sponsor us have changed their criteria, and inclusion and diversity just isn’t as much of a focus anymore.
“It’s so tricky with rising costs of everything as well. It’s not been a fun year. West Lothian Pride is one of the only LGBT+ spaces within the area. This will literally take away one of the major things for the community.
“We’ve tried to be that shining beacon with West Lothian, and without the event people need to travel to big city’s for events like this. We’re a smaller, community-focused pride, and that would sadly go.”
‘At this moment in time, there is currently not enough funding available for us to confidently deliver a Pride event next year’
While this year’s event is ‘99.5 per cent’ paid for, the future of West Lothian Pride hangs in the balance. As it stands with their current financial situation, the event ‘will not be going ahead next year’.
Ross added: “The concern is about next year’s event, we’re already tight for this year but 99.5 per cent of costs are covered. If something else pops up we will struggle.
“Locals seem pretty gutted. One guy said his local event, Grampian Pride, has stopped and he was going to choose us for the next pride as he came last year and really enjoyed it. A lot of comments have been really supportive, but the overall feeling is sadness.”
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Sharing an update for locals, West Lothian Pride posted on Facebook: “For many Pride organisations across the country, funding is becoming harder and harder to secure each year – and sadly, West Lothian Pride is no exception.
“While we are incredibly proud that we have been able to secure enough funding to deliver this year’s Pride celebrations, the reality is that once this year’s event is over, our remaining funds will be extremely low. At this moment in time, there is currently not enough funding available for us to confidently deliver a Pride event next year.
“This is not something we ever wanted to say, but we believe in being open and honest with our community. West Lothian Pride has always been built by the community, for the community – and now we need your help to save Pride in West Lothian.
“If you believe Pride matters, if you value having safe, visible and inclusive LGBTQ+ events in our area, please consider supporting us.”
If you’d like to support West Lothian Pride, you can make donations here. You can find other ways to support here.
