Newport City Homes is sponsoring the first Pride in Port festival. The social landlord is backing the day-long festival taking place in Belle Vue Park and the city centre on Saturday 3 September 2022.
Organisers say the day will help improve the wellbeing and welfare of the LGBTQ+ community in Newport and bring people from all communities together.
The £2,000 donation will fund and support the welfare of volunteers in the lead up, during and after the event, and support a post-Pride event to thank them for their help.
Video: Ceri Doyle, chief executive of Newport City Homes, talks about Pride in the Port 2022 and why we are one of the sponsors
The day will start at 11am with a quiet hour to make the event more welcoming for people with hidden disabilities.
The entertainment starts at 12pm and will be hosted throughout the day by Minus De Kock, Fifi Fierce and Newport City Radio. The afternoon features musicians, drag queens and drag kings and runs until 6pm.
Newport City Homes and other organisations will have information stands for people to chat and pick up information.
Several venues in the city centre are holding events on Saturday evening and Sunday for the fun to continue.
Ceri Doyle, chief executive of Newport City Homes, said: “We are so proud to sponsor Newport’s first Pride in the Port festival. We believe this is a community that need to feel that NCH is more inclusive towards them. The day will raise awareness of the positivity of this community but also some of the challenges they feel. I’ve met with the organisers and their commitment to holding a fun event for everyone is fantastic.
“I was alarmed to learn that one in four young homeless people is from the LGBTQ+ community. That is a disproportionate figure of homelessness and for that reason as a housing provide it’s important we promote what brilliant events like this can actually achieve.”
Video: Adam Smith, vice chair of Pride in the Port, explains how sponsorship from Newport City Homes is going to help the event
Adam Smith, Vice-Chair for Pride in the Port, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic day for all the family in the beautiful Belle Vue Park. The support from NCH is going to make a massive difference to our volunteers. Successful festivals depend on volunteers and this money from NCH means we can keep them well fed and transport them between the two sites. Following the day we plan to hold a thank-you event for volunteers and this money will also pay for that to keep them involved as we will need their support for Pride 2023.”
For the latest information on the event keep an eye on: