Richmond is gearing up for its first full Pride event in 2027, and this year, as part of our Community Anchor work, we've been quietly laying the groundwork with a soft launch - supported by an additional grant of £2,000 from North Yorkshire Council.

Working with young people across the town, we've been running activities designed to open up honest conversations about what it means to be LGBTQI+ in Richmond in the twenty-first century. The resources that have come out of this aren't just for show - they're aimed squarely at building more inclusive, cohesive communities, and giving people the confidence to speak up where they might once have held back.

And it's been working. Throughout June, businesses across town got behind the idea, with Pride displays popping up in shop windows all over Richmond. The season reached its high point with a free family picnic down by the Swale - music, laughter, and no shortage of fun for all ages.

It's early days for Richmond Pride, but Speak Up! is exactly the kind of groundwork the Community Anchor role was designed to support — and a strong sign of things to come in 2027.