Festival thankful but wary of future
The organisers of Maidenhead Festival have said a huge thank-you to the companies and charities that have so far sponsored this year’s event.
But they have also sounded a warning that without more support the future of the event could be in doubt.
The festival, which takes place on the weekend of July 22-23 in Kidwells Park, is the largest event in the Maidenhead calendar.
It offers a packed programme of family-focused music and entertainment along with sideshows and stalls, a funfair and host of food vendors serving up mouth-watering tastes from around the world.
There is no entry charge and all of the entertainment on the
main stage and other firm favourites, like the festival beach and spectacular fireworks display, are also free.
Organised by volunteers, to remain free of charge the festival relies on grants and sponsorship to cover the £60,000 costs of staging the massive event.
So far this year funding has been provided by the Shanly Foundation, the Louis Baylis Charitable Trust, Awards for All, The Prince Philip Trust Fund and various community grants.
Vital sponsorship has also come from Kirkwood Estate Agents, Grundon, OvenU Maidenhead and Maidenhead Lions. Income is also provided by the stalls, food vendors, funfair and advertising on giant video screens.
Chairman Lisa Hunter said: “The festival is organised for the community by the community and without the support of our wonderful sponsors it just would not be possible. Thank you to them all for their vital support, which in the current economic climate is more important than ever.
“With the cost of living crisis hitting families hard we are determined to give our community a weekend they can enjoy without it burning a hole in their pockets. Entry to the festival is free and much of it can be experienced without spending a penny.”
Lisa explained funding the festival has always been a challenge but is now much harder.
She said: “There is so much demand on grant providers that funding is more difficult to come by, while some companies who provide sponsorship are having to tighten their belts.
“This is why we are so grateful to those organisations who continue to support this fantastic community event.
“So far this year we are about £20,000 short of what we need. We still want to put on a full festival for the community rather than cut back on things like the fireworks, and thankfully
we have financial reserves we can dip into to help make up the shortfall.
“But obviously this has a knock-on effect for future years and eventually we may find ourselves in the unenviable position of putting on a much-reduced festival or even having no festival at all.”
There are still opportunities to sponsor the festival or take out an advert on the big screens.
The public can also donate via the festival website.
Full details at www.maidenheadfestival.org.uk or contact Lisa Hunter at lisaayne22000 @yahoo.co.uk