2025 highlights (and looking forward to 2026)

As we wrap up 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on what this year has meant for Pride in the Dales: the highs, the lows and everything in between.

Highlights of 2025

• Community coffee morning

  Connecting with local residents, allies and LGBTQ+ people over coffee and conversation reminded us exactly why we do this work. Seeing new faces and familiar ones come together was a real source of energy for our committee.

• Free kids’ party

  One of our proudest achievements this year was offering a free, inclusive party for local children – complete with crafts, games, a magician and (of course) a bar for the parents. For many families, it was their first Pride-adjacent event – and the energy in the room was unforgettable.

• Planning for summer Pride

  Throughout spring, our volunteer team worked hard to put together a beautiful summer Pride celebration for the Dales. We secured venues, built community partnerships and dreamed up creative ideas to make the event as accessible and joyful as possible.

The lows (and what we learned)

Unfortunately, we had to make the incredibly difficult decision to cancel our 2025 summer Pride event. Funding fell short, and as a small grassroots organisation, we had to prioritise the long-term survival of Pride in the Dales. While heartbreaking, this decision was made with care, transparency and deep responsibility.

What we learned throughout this process is that the appetite for rural Pride events is real – and so is the need for sustainable support. Cancelling wasn’t a failure. It was a strategic choice to protect the organisation so we can continue serving our community for years to come.

Our goals for 2026

• Strengthening our committee

  We’re working to bring in new volunteers, diversify our skills and make our processes more sustainable so no one is burned out or overwhelmed.

• Supporting the community year-round

  Rather than focusing exclusively on one large event, we want to find small, meaningful, regular ways to support LGBTQ+ people in rural areas – whether that’s social meet-ups, family events, wellbeing sessions, workshops, or collaborations with local spaces.

• Reviving our summer Pride event (fingers crossed!)

  With stronger foundations and greater sponsorship support, we hope to bring back our summer celebration in 2026. Our vision remains the same: a joyful, inclusive, local Pride that feels authentically us.

Pride in the Dales exists because community matters – especially in rural areas where LGBTQ+ people often feel unseen or isolated. Thank you to everyone who attended our events, volunteered, donated or simply believed in what we’re building.

Here’s to a brighter, more sustainable and more connected 2026.