Bourne Free is back in 2015 for its 11th annual pride event in Bournemouth. This year you can expect more of the same with great entertainment lined up for the 3 day celebration starting on Friday 10th July. It all kicks off with the Family Fun night on the Friday from 5pm with a Broadway themed evening. People can sing along to the film “Sound of Music” playing on the big screen followed by live acts from Jenny Castell and Cassidy O’Connors.
Saturday will be a jam packed day of fun with the Broadway themed parade starting at 11am through Bournemouth town centre, followed by entertainment both at the Bandstand and Main Triangle Arena from 1pm.
At the Bandstand the event will feature over 30 information stalls and live music. The Bandstand will be formally opened by the Mayor of Bournemouth and the local MP Conor Burns at 2pm. This opening will see a coordinated joint release of 400 rainbow coloured balloons from both the Triangle and the Bandstand, to remember those who have suffered from hate crime. The opening will also help remember and raise awareness for victims of the Nepal earthquake.
In the Triangle, this year’s event will be headlined by Big Brovaz vs Booty Luv and the return of resident DJ Brandon Block. The weekend closes on the Sunday with the traditional church service and the return of Miss Jason’s Bingo. However there are some important messages being shared at Bourne Free this year. Not only will the “Well-Being Tent” return for the 4th year, but it will be joined for the first time by the Sexual Assault Referral Clinic team.
The clinic goes hand in hand with key messages that Bourne Free will be highlighting around domestic and sexual violence and the new “hate crime app” that has been launched by Dorset Police.
Chris Ashton-Hollis the new chairman of Bourne Free said “Its really important for us as a charity that we both celebrate the diversity of Bournemouth and Dorset but also highlight key messages, including support groups and tools that make our community a safer one to live in. The return of the Well-being tent and the introduction of both the Hate Crime app and the Sexual Assault Referral Clinic is an important one for the whole LGBT community to have insight of, and we are really glad Bourne Free is a vehicle in which this can be highlighted. If you want any more information on this year’s pride please visit bournefree.co.uk”
Martyn Underhill (Vice Chair) said “After a visit from the Mayor and local MP Conor Burns to the main stage in the Triangle at 2.30pm, the audience will be shown a video made by Bournefree to highlight hate crime, and how to report it. One of the main themes for our event this year will be getting people to sign up to the Hate Crime app.”
The hate crime app can be found here – www.dorset.police.uk
