With Bridgwater Carnival 2014 just under six months away, organisers are seeking for local charities and organisations to benefit from this year’s street collection.
In 2013 just under £21,000 was collected and shared between the Bridgwater Carnival charity and last year’s chosen charities and once again local causes in and around Sedgemoor are being given the opportunity to get involved with Bridgwater’s biggest and best night of the year. Last year over 470 collectors representing 30 different local charities and organisations helped to collect over half a million coins, and some even joined in with the carnival fun and wore fancy dress.
Mark Robson, collection officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, explained: “Every year we invite all local charities and organisations who support and help people in the surrounding area to register their interest in supporting the carnival, as it provides an ideal opportunity for them to boost their funds.
“All we ask is they have volunteers out on the streets collecting on carnival night and assisting with the counting of the money after the event itself.”
Sedgemoor based charities and organisations are also able to benefit from the carnival through the sale of souvenir programmes or by helping with the marshalling of the carnival and car parks throughout the night.
Those interested in becoming involved with the collection or who would like to receive further information about the other fundraising opportunities, should contact Mark Robson at Lower Marsh Farm, Kingston St Mary, Taunton, TA2 8AB, or through e-mail (mark@bridgwatercarnival.org.uk) or via 07787 120273. The closing date for applications is Friday 29 August 2014.
“Helping local charities and organisations to boost their funds is an integral part of the carnival which we are all very proud of, and is something which many people overlook”, added Mark, who has been the event’s collection officer for 9 years.
“Over the last 30 years, over £660,000 has been collected at Bridgwater Carnival and shared between local charities and Bridgwater Carnival, and this is testament to the hard work of everybody associated with Bridgwater Carnival.”