North Herts PRIDE receives National Lottery grant ahead of celebration day

North Herts PRIDE has received a welcome boost ahead of this year’s celebration, with organisers awarded a four‑figure grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. The timing could not be better, with PRIDE Day taking place on 22 August from 10am in Hitchin’s Market Square.

For a group that began just five years ago as a small picnic on Windmill Hill, held as Covid restrictions were easing, the grant marks another moment in a remarkable journey. What started as a handful of people gathering with blankets and sandwiches has grown into one of North Hertfordshire’s most inclusive and visible community events.

This year’s funding will help cover essential costs including the community stage, DJ sets, drag artists and Market Square charges. Crucially, it means that any money raised on the day can be reinvested directly into future projects rather than being used to pay for operational expenses. For a volunteer‑run organisation, that support makes a real difference.

Co‑founder Niamh Skinner said she was “so excited” by the award, describing it as a huge vote of confidence in the work PRIDE continues to do. Fellow co‑founder Katie Wilson added: “It just goes to show what can be achieved from small beginnings.”

As PRIDE Day approaches, organisers say they hope this year’s event will be their biggest and most welcoming yet — a celebration of how far the local LGBTQ+ community has come, and how much can grow from a simple idea shared on a hill.