Sponsorship

For Carnival to continue in the town the Association not only requires more volunteers to help run the events but we increasingly rely on Sponsorship of events like the procession, where the costs are now running at around £8000. A sponsorship pack is available from the General Enquiries link on the contacts page of this website.

Southend Carnival is seeking a sponsorship from the business community to make Carnival an economically viable concern.

In order to ensure the money generated during Carnival Week and via the Illuminated procession can be donated to the Carnival charities, an increasingly large amount needs to be raised through other means to pay for the organisation and running of Carnival.

Ever-spiralling costs, more health and safety requirements and the devaluation of coins in real terms, have conspired to decrease the actual amount of money given to charity over the last five years.

Chris Charles Procession Co-ordinator explained: “There are so many aspects of Carnival that people don’t realise we have to pay for”, he said. “Last years Illuminated procession cost £14,000 to put on. We received around £4,000 from the Arts Council travelling grant to pay for the Notting Hill-style performers from Luton Carnival to appear in the procession, plus around £5,000 from Southend Council. The balance of the costs being met from other trading activities around the procession and the profits of the Fair. “

“The Carnival Fair in Chalkwell Park is the main fund-raiser, and has been so for the last 10 years or more. In fact, without the Fair there would be no Carnival – we just couldn’t afford it.

“In the 60s and 70s the collecting tins were more profitable than they are today, as copper coins were worth so much more. People still give their children a handful of pennies and two pence coins, which can cost more to bank than they are worth in actual money. We don’t want to stop people giving small change, but giving one pound coin rather than 100 pennies would mean we are able to give more money to charity”, he said.

In terms of sponsorship, there are many levels at which businesses and other organisations can become involved. These range from £12,000 for the sole sponsorship of the Illuminated procession to the donation of prizes for one of the many events during Carnival Week.

“We publish thousands of Carnival programmes which are distributed through libraries, leisure centres and other key venues across the borough, put up hundreds of posters throughout the town and undertake a lot of publicity for Carnival – and our sponsors can benefit from all of this”, Chris continued. “Unique opportunities, such as the sponsorship of the Carnival Court’s outfits and float, can offer sponsors publicity in and out of Southend, as the court attends many functions during their reign. The possibilities are endless

Carnival Clubs

With two Carnival Clubs, linked to the Carnival Association, in existence, we are looking to set-up more of these clubs to build and maintain permanent entries in the Procession, provide services to the Association, for example stewarding. Some form of "pump priming” funding may be available from the Carnival Association but the clubs will be free to raise funds - the commitment will be to support Southend Carnival activities at no charge. For further details please e-mail the association using the General Enquiries link on the contacts page of this website.