Since previously announcing a downsize in scale to this year’s festival, Liverpool Pride is now launching new campaigns for the local and business communities to gain financial support to sustain future Pride events in the city.

At a time when the UK is celebrating the USA’s decision on legalisation of gay marriage by turning their social media images rainbow colours, the organisers of Liverpool Pride charity has faced difficulties in attracting additional sponsors to help fund the format that attenders have come to expect in recent years.

In response to this, businesses are encouraged to sign up to become a Friend of Liverpool Pride where they are able to make a donation to the charity, helping to sustain ongoing work and to secure funding for 2016 and beyond.

By making an annual pledge of £250 towards the charity, Friends of Liverpool Pride businesses will be listed on the Liverpool Pride website on a dedicated page, which will include links to their own web pages, as well as social media support to Liverpool Pride’s 28,000 combined Twitter and Facebook followers.

Liverpool Pride also invite local businesses to get involved in a fundraising day they are launching, called Dress to Impress. This year’s theme is Love is No Crime and on Friday 31 July the charity are encouraging businesses and their staff to raise money by dressing in their most wild and wonderful interpretations of the theme as well as the trademark rainbow colours.  Companies can then share their flamboyant and colourful outfits by posting their selfies on facebook and twitter using hashtag #loveisnocrime.  This will help launch the Liverpool Pride programme of events on 1st and 2nd August.

The Liverpool public will also be able to show their support by making donations from as little as £2.50 to the charity via a donation button on the Liverpool Pride website www.liverpoolpride.co.uk.

Despite the changes to this year’s Pride, the event will go ahead for the sixth consecutive year on Saturday 1 August, with event highlight the Pride March and the Michael Causer Vigil remaining the key focus of the event.

A programme of activities will also take place across the city, including market, education and community zone, workshops, guest speakers, acoustic music, a mobile cinema, and a family zone, with locations including Stanley Street Quarter.

The date of Liverpool Pride always coincides with the anniversary of when murdered gay teenager Michael Causer tragically lost his life. Michael died on 2 August 2008, and the festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and empower the LGBT communities. This year’s Liverpool Pride takes place a week before what would have also been Michael’s 26th birthday.

Liverpool Pride 2015 is being supported by main sponsors Homes For Everyone and Liverpool City Council. Supporters also include After Adoption, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Hugh Baird College, Unison North West LGBT, and Barefoot Wine.

The dedicated team at Liverpool Pride, which is run entirely by volunteers, work tirelessly to deliver an event which will make LGBT community and city of Liverpool proud and are calling out to local businesses and the community to get behind them and show their support.

Businesses interested in becoming a Friend of Liverpool Pride should get in touch via the Liverpool Pride website.

Those interested in holding a Dress to Impress day should contact Michael Carey at michael.carey@liverpoolpride.co.uk to discuss any details and to arrange funds to be paid to the charity.

Keep up to date with Pride Liverpool announcements by visiting www.liverpoolpride.co.uk where people can also register to volunteer or find out about sponsorship opportunities.

Follow them at Facebook.com/LiverpoolPride and Twitter @LiverpoolPride