Regarding recent news of Pride’s £50,000 deficit, I decided to look at Pride’s accounts submitted to Companies House for the four financial years ending October 2008 The cost of Pride (excluding any grants given out) remained constant during those years, averaging out at about £307,00. But other figures for those years are disturbing. Although administration costs remained constant at approximately £20,000 per year, staff costs have risen by over 31% to more than £86,000 in 2008.

I fail to see why Pride needs three full-time staff. The majority of park income requires a handful of contracts – bars, market, fun fair, food etc – usually to single companies and often for multi-year deals.

The infrastructure workload is borne by a main contractor. Of the 100 events in the lead-up to Pride, many are organised by local LGBT groups or businesses. As is the majority of fundraising. That leaves two other major responsibilities – finding sponsorship and selling advertising.

Pride gives out grants to local groups as part of its expenditure. In 2005, Pride gave £24,304. By 2008, this had dropped by 65% to £8,628. Presumably, facing a loss this year will mean local groups receive nothing.

The most disturbing figure, however, concerns fundraising by the local businesses. The average raised for the four Prides 2005-2008 was £39,820 each year. Pride’s website shows an ongoing figure for this year of £7,361 – a drop of over 80% or £32,459.

That figure represents over 65% of Pride’s £50,000 loss. On the assumption that Pride’s figures are up to date, it shows serious omissions in the list of fundraisers and small amounts raised by others.

These are businesses that have been long supporters of Pride, working tirelessly over the years to fundraise. Serious questions ought to be asked why this aspect of fundraising is so bad.

Overall it seems very apparent why Pride has financial problems. I feel that Pride is overstaffed and for some reason has lost the support of many in the local business community.

It’s time to put the begging bowl away and look carefully at where its problems lie, and act on it.

Graham Vincent Coombe Vale Saltdean