Charities Required for Carnival 2009
May 2009
With Bridgwater Carnival 2009 just over five months away, organisers are seeking for local charities and organisations to benefit from this year’s street collection.
In 2008 a total of £26,941 was collected and shared between the Bridgwater Carnival charity and last year’s chosen local charities (Bridgwater Rotary Club, British Red Cross – Bridgwater Branch, Bridgwater Lions International, Freewheelers EVS, SNAP, Rhode Lane Wanderers, Headway Somerset, Ron Peberdy Cyberknife Trust, St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice, Childrens Hospice South West, Bridgwater Arts Centre, Sue Ryder Care, Break 4 Kids (YHA) and BARB Rescue – and once again local causes are being given the opportunity to get involved with Bridgwater’s biggest night of the year.
Mark Robson, collection officer for Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, explained: “Every year we invite all charities and organisations who support and help people in the Bridgwater 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 collecting on carnival night and assist with the counting of the money after the event itself.”
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.
2008 saw the amount of money collected on carnival night fall for the second consecutive year, and organisers are hoping to reverse this disappointing statistic. Mr Robson, added: “Providing the weather is good and we can get more collectors onto the streets, shaking their tins and encouraging spectators to give at least £1 each, then there is no reason why we can’t stop this worrying trend. Obviously the more money raised, the more the charities benefit!”
Those interested in becoming involved with the collection or who would like to receive further information about the other opportunities, should contact Mark Robson at Lower Marsh Farm, Kingston St Mary, Taunton, TA2 8AB.
Mark can also be contacted by email or phone on (01823) 451324.
The closing date for applications is Friday 28 August 2009.
