Organisers of Dundee Pride have appealed for funding to make the 2020 extravaganza “bigger and better” following the success of this year’s event.
Volunteers are also being sought to help raise funds and publicise the parade, which has grown substantially since it was held for the first time in the city in 2018.
The committee is looking to raise around £20,000 in order to put on more headline acts and a longer programme in 2020, and has appealed to local businesses to become sponsors.
Dundee Pride co-chairman Tommy Small said: “This year’s event was so successful – we had 14,500 people, compared to 10,000 the previous year.
“We want to top that next year and to provide an even bigger and better event.
“This will cost money. This year’s event cost £42,000 and in order to get more headliners and expand the event next year we’d need another £20,000.
“We are a charity that is completely volunteer-led and because the event is free, it can difficult to raise money.”
Saturday’s event featured a parade from the Steeple Church to Slessor Gardens. It was led by Scottish Government cabinet secretary for social security Shirley-Anne Somerville, who has responsibility for equalities, and Kilted Yoga star Finlay Wilson.
Hundreds of onlookers cheered on the marchers, who dressed in colourful costumes and carried placards, although Dundee City Council equalities spokeswoman Lynne Short said she was booed as she made her way to the event.
Tommy said many more people had shown their support for the gathering and he hoped organisers would be able to harness this for the 2020 event.
“We’d like to thank our sponsors, and we hope that more businesses will consider the economic benefits of sponsoring us next year,” he said.
“We also need volunteers who have bespoke skills, such as marketing, fundraising or knowledge of finance.
“There are all sorts of ways to get involved.”
The planning for next year’s Pride will start as early as November after organisers and volunteers have a well-deserved rest.
Tommy said they had positive feedback about the event and that the decision to hold it in Slessor Gardens had been the right one.
“The first year we had it in City Square and we quickly realised there wasn’t enough space for the number of people,” he said.
“We worked with the council to move to Slessor Gardens and it was absolutely the right decision.
“We had really positive feedback about this, with people saying they loved the layout.
“In 2020 we hope to have it in the same location and to build on the success we’ve had.”
