PRIDE

A Celebration of Identity, Community and Progress

Pride is a large-scale, inclusive cultural celebration that brings communities together to celebrate identity, diversity and shared experience.

Delivered as a free, accessible, all-day event, Pride combines live performance, family-friendly activity, community engagement and cultural expression into a single, high-impact civic moment.

What the Programme Is

Pride is a public celebration rooted in the history of LGBTQIA+ visibility and equality, now evolved into a wider community event that welcomes everyone.

It is both:

A platform for expression and visibility
A shared civic celebration of diversity and inclusion

In Bishop Auckland, the programme transforms civic space into a vibrant, accessible environment where people come together across backgrounds, identities and generations.

Communities and Partners

Pride is delivered in close partnership with local organisations, with strong emphasis on community integration.

Key partnerships include:

Education providers (including student-led involvement in delivery and programming)
Local authorities and civic stakeholders
Community organisations and charities
Local traders, artists and performers

In 2025, student involvement was a defining feature, with participants contributing to stewarding, site coordination, performance and creative delivery, gaining real-world experience in cultural production.

Vision and Ambition

Our ambition is to position Pride as:

A visible statement of inclusion within the town
A platform for community participation and ownership
A programme that grows in scale, profile and impact year-on-year

We are building Pride not just as an event, but as a programme that supports cultural confidence and civic identity.

Cultural Impact

Pride delivers both social and economic value:

Creates inclusive public space and shared experience
Strengthens community cohesion and visibility
Provides skills development through student and volunteer involvement
Supports local businesses and traders
Drives footfall and town centre activity

In 2025:

3,500 attendees at the main event, over triple the previous year
Expanded programme including fringe events and community activity
Strong engagement across digital, press and local networks

History

Pride was launched as a new programme in Bishop Auckland and has grown rapidly in both scale and reach.

Following a successful debut, the programme expanded significantly in its second year, increasing attendance, broadening participation and strengthening partnerships.