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Disability Pride plans scuppered by money issues

James AldridgeLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageReading Borough Council A sign reading "Reading Disability Pride Day". There is a girl smiling on the sign. To the left, there is red and yellow bunting. In the background is a gazebo with a light yellow top.Reading Borough Council
The event included live music, comedy, theatre and multiple stalls

An event celebrating people with disabilities will not be returning in 2024, a council has confirmed.

Reading in Berkshire organised its first Disability Pride in July 2023.

Held in Broad Street, the event aimed to celebrate the diversity of the disabled community.

But hopes for a follow-up event were dashed, with Reading Borough Council blaming "finance and staffing issues".

News imageReading Borough Council Three women wearing high vis jackets are crowded around a white table. Two are sitting and one is standing. They are holding up pages of red, blue and green stickers. There are more stickers on the table.Reading Borough Council
There were suggestions of holding the event indoors after it was affected by rain last year

The news was discussed at the council’s access and disabilities working group, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

A spokesperson for the authority said a combination of long-term sickness among organisers and budget constraints meant it would not be possible to host the event this year.

They added: “It remains the council’s strong aspiration, however, that a celebratory event organised together with the community should be considered for future years and this will form part of much wider budget discussions in the years to come."

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