Success at Sunderland's first ever Family Pride event

Hundreds of families attended a brand-new, family-focused Pride event at Mowbray Park, Sunderland today (8 July) as the first ever Family Pride was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Sunderland.

Sunderland City Council and its children's services partner Together for Children (TfC) organised the event, along with the help of its youth LGBTQ+ group Cozmic 3piphany, entertaining families with a variety of stalls, activities, and live performances.

The park's bandstand held live performances by young people from across the city, including performers from the We Make Culture's Young Musician's project and Young Asian Voices.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Allison Chisnall said:"The first family Pride event was a huge success and I was honoured to officially open the event. Together for Children and Sunderland City Council welcomed local residents to the celebrations, and many families got to experience pride for free and for the first time. The event was organised by people from all over the city who collaborated in a shared vision of creating a brighter future for our LGBTQ+ youth. The Pride family area allowed our city to really celebrate the diverse nature of our under 18s LGBTQ+ community in Sunderland and I believe this introduction of Family Pride will make a huge difference to the lives of all Sunderland residents and I look forward to next year's event."

Partners such as the University of Sunderland; music-focused youth provider bunker; Young Asian Voice; charity Cultural Spring; the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Gentoo all worked together to make today's event a reality and provide advice, entertainment and support to young people and families across Sunderland.

Together for Children's Chief Executive, Jill Colbert said: "Sunderland Pride is always a greatly anticipated event, and this year's new family zone made the event even more special. A lot of work went on behind-the-scenes to make it happen and our team at Together for Children and Cozmic 3piphany youth members worked tirelessly to make the first family-focused area a huge success. It is great to see young people and families attending this wonderfully inclusive Pride celebration."

In a survey about the event one visitor said: "I think the difference this will have made for young people will have been huge.  To see an event promoting inclusivity for them and shaped by young people too will be invaluable for them as they grow. To know that there are spaces and people in their city who will fight for them and celebrate them is incredible."

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