Hebden Bridge Web

Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Handmade Parade want your love - and money!

Would you like to show your love for the Handmade Parade? If so, organisers have launched a 'Feel the Love, Share the Love' crowd funding campaign for Valentine's Day and are asking supporters not to be shy.

There's also the chance to send a love letter to the parade in the form of your theme ideas for this year's event. Suggestion boxes will be available in the Co-op and Hebden Bridge Library from February 14, with a Spark Day being held on Saturday March 1st for those who would like to contribute ideas in person.

This year's Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade will take place on 8 June with organisers hoping to build on the success of last year's record-breaking event. But although funding has been secured from the Arts Council for England and Hebden Royd Town Council, the budget is currently only two thirds that of previous years.

So organisers have responded by launching a crowd funding campaign called 'Feel the Love, Share the Love' - just in time for Valentine's Day. By pledging £5 a month to the parade, supporters will be providing the long-term funding it needs and will receive a window sticker, a special mention on the Handmade Parade website and a free pass to the open workshops.

Businesses are also being encouraged to give something back to the parade, which brings tens of thousands of pounds of extra revenue to the town on parade day, by donating £15 a month, if a small business, or £25 a month if a large business. Organisers hope the window stickers for businesses will in turn encourage parade supporters into their shops.

Handmade Parade Co-ordinator Hannah Merriman said: "The purpose of this campaign is to invite our community to play a much more important part in helping us create the event.

"People tell us they can't imagine a Hebden summer without a parade, however the reality is that each and every year it's touch and go if it will happen. This is a wonderful way for people, whether they love to come along and dress up, love to watch it go by or own a business that benefits from it, to say 'I love it and I support it'.

"We are asking people to donate just £5 a month – the price of a couple of cappuccinos – to help make sure the parade stays a permanent feature in our community. Wouldn't you say the Handmade Parade is worth the price of a cup of coffee a fortnight?

"Let's be honest, we all know that free community arts events stand on very wobbly ground at the moment, so why not seek a community-generated solution? If we can't make it work in this most historically radical and can-do valley then I don't know where can."

You can sign up to the campaign at the Local Giving website. Just go to 'Give Monthly' and follow the instructions. All money raised will be used for the Hebden Bridge parade.

The Handmade Parade Spark Day will take place on Saturday March 1 from 2-4pm at the parade workshops in Victoria Road to help decide the theme for this year's event. There will also be fun craft activities on offer for all the family.