Member Article

HDBA launches crowd-funding scheme for Heswall Festival

Heswall & District Business Association (HDBA) is appealing to Wirral residents and businesses to pledge cash towards an ambitious ‘crowd-funding’ initiative to transform the town into a winter wonderland.

The association - chaired Wirral business incubator Whitfield Business Support (WBS) - is hosting the ICE Christmas Festival in Heswall, in December, after just gaining council permission to hold an extended street celebration.

It is now looking for additional funding to help cover costs for workshops, outdoor shows, tented villages and an ornate lighting display running throughout the town.

WBS digital director Justine McLaughlin said the local community is uniting to help organise the ICE Festival, which aims to promote an Interactive, Creative and Educational Christmas.

Ms McLaughlin said residents and business owners have already pledged thousands of pounds to the crowd funding scheme. However, she is looking to raise greater profile and awareness for the initiate which aims to raise £20,000 before October 04.

“We are aiming to create truly memorable and engaging Christmas celebration in Heswall this year,” said Ms McLaughlin. “We have just gained council permission to run a longer and larger Christmas event on the high street than ever before. The ICE Festival is designed to bring the community even closer together, to encourage greater interaction between residents and local businesses to stimulate community relationships, trade and festive good will.

“The weekend is set to include children’s workshops within local shops and outdoor arenas. Shops and businesses will host wine tastings, Christmas menus tasters, alongside ‘Dickens’ outdoor and indoor shows, book readings and signings. We have developed a tented village which will host creative and educational workshops for families of all ages. The outdoor arenas will also host a food court, boutique shops, stalls and mulled wine. Meanwhile, a nativity will be situated in the main ‘Puddingdale Park’ along with a Santa’s Grotto and a novelty Dog Grotto.”

Ms McLaughlin said the event can even be extended, the more support and funding received from the crowd funding scheme. “This is a golden opportunity for Heswall & District Business Community to show what it can achieve and how it can add value to the local community,” she said. “All association members are taking time out of their day-to-day roles to make this festival a success, so there is a great deal of passion and desire for it to work. This is why we are keen to galvanise the local community and ensure maximum local involvement. This is an event which the whole of Heswall and the surrounding areas can be proud of. All donations will help us cover hire costs for equipment and temporary structures like outdoor arenas and tented villages. We also intend to arrange a beautiful light display linking businesses with a consistent theme.

“The aim is to strategically place Christmas light sculptures acting as a trail through the town, just under a mile long. People will be able to follow the trail and take pictures to enter a competition to win a prize from every shop involved in the event. The final draw will take place on Christmas Eve and we’ve already had a great interest from local restaurants and businesses for prizes.

Bromborough, Port Sunlight & New Ferry Cllr Warren Ward recently joined the Whitfield Business Support team as an Engagement Coordinator. “The ICE Christmas Festival is about changing our high-street for the better,” he said. “We believe our town centre would benefit greatly from additional funding. Bu ultimately, the heart of the community is dictated by the attitude and character of local people, so this is just as much about engaging local residents, organisations and businesses. As an association representing local enterprise we are willing to do everything we can to help or at least encourage change for the better.”

Cllr Ward, who is one of the UKs’ youngest politicians, said HDBA has been active for around four years in its current form. “Its mission is to drive inward investment, raise brand awareness and galvanise the business community,” he said. “HDBA is looking to strengthen relationships in the town centre by bringing together businesses of all sizes including home-workers driving the local economy.”

For more information on the Christmas Light Festival contact or to donate to the crowd-funding scheme visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/heswall-ice-christmas-festival email justine.mclaughlin@whitfieldbusiness.co.uk or call 0151 342 0590.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sam Pinnington .