Member Article

Dorset housebuilder supports Pride in Bournemouth with £2,000 sponsorship

Barratt Homes in Dorset has shown its support for the weekend’s annual Pride festival in Bournemouth, with a generous cash sponsorship.

The leading housebuilder, which is bringing new homes to the county, handed over a cheque for £2,000 to Pride organisers, Bourne Free, for the LGBTQ+ community event, held in Meyrick Park.

The two-day event, which started on Friday 8th July with a special Family Fun Night, then saw thousands of festival-goers lining Bournemouth’s streets on Saturday 9th, to follow a rainbow Parade through the town and on to the park, where the party continued.

The popular Bourne Free celebration was, yet again, an incredible success, and Chair, Neal Errington, said it couldn’t have happened without the support of its sponsors.

Neal said: “It’s been fantastic to be able to celebrate and promote equality for the LGBTQ+ community here in Bournemouth once again.

“Without the support of our sponsors, along with our team of volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to put on such a large-scale event for local people, so we’re hugely grateful to Barratt Homes for its donation. The money went towards providing the main stage’s entertainment for the thousands of people attending on Friday and Saturday.”

Committed to supporting equality throughout its business, Barratt Homes was eager to support the yearly festival that does so much for the LGBTQ+ community. And, with the developer recently launching a ‘Diversity & Inclusion’ programme at its offices across the region, the sponsorship seemed particularly appropriate.

Anthony Dimmick, Barratt Homes Community Liaison Officer, said: “When we heard that Bourne Free was once again hosting its annual festival to celebrate diversity within the community, we had to help.

“Barratt has recently rolled out a ‘Diversity & Inclusion’ programme across its organisation, so the sponsorship felt particularly apt. The programme will mean the housebuilder will regularly assess the way it works, so it can continue to provide a workplace where all its employees can feel comfortable to be themselves.

“It was wonderful to see all the colour and entertainment that Bourne Free brought to Bournemouth this weekend, and we’re delighted to have provided our support.”

Bourne Free was set up in 2004 by prominent figures and members of the LGBTQ+ community after a far-right group with anti-gay views protested in Bournemouth town centre. Since then, it has become an annual event celebrating and promoting equality and the town’s rich diversity. Money raised goes to the Bourne Free Community Fund, which has donated £18,000 to local groups and charities over the last 18 months.

The Pride festival returned to its original Meyrick Park site this year, after a 17-year hiatus. Originally planned to move back to the park in 2020, the move was delayed by two years because of the pandemic.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .