Barclays Announced As Headline Sponsor For Liverpool Pride 2018

Organisers of the increasingly popular Liverpool Pride Festival have revealed that Barclays will be the event's headline sponsor for 2018.

The team behind the two-day event are delighted that Barclays - who played a key role in last year's event - is returning for a second year to continue their support for the festival.

Liverpool Pride is the region's established annual celebration of all things LGBT+, and the 2018 event is the festival's ninth consecutive year.

This year's event will again take place across two days - Saturday 28 July and Sunday 29 July 2018. The festival is free to attend, and the location will be announced shortly.

Barclays' support from last year included local branches showcasing the event to its customers, along with over 200 staff taking part in the Liverpool Pride March with an incredible rainbow flag which has travelled the globe to different Pride festivals.

Barclays also lit up their Wavertree Contact Centre as part of the Come Out Of The Shadows project.

Mark Armario, Director of Premier UK at Barclays, commented: "I'm enormously proud that Barclays will be the headline sponsor of Liverpool Pride for the second year running. It's the highlight of the LGBT+ calendar in the city and a true celebration of the power and importance of diversity. Our ongoing relationship with Pride, both in Liverpool and across the UK, is just one of the ways in which we show our commitment to the LGBT+ community.

"Encouraging greater diversity within organisations is an essential driver of long-term, sustainable success, and at Barclays we work hard to create a culture that enables colleagues, customers and clients to express who they are. We have a strong track record in promoting the LGBT+ agenda and our sponsorship of this year's event shows just how important equality and diversity are to us."

Barclays' support is welcomed by the team behind the Liverpool Pride Festival.

Andi Herring, Co-Chair of Liverpool Pride said: "We are thrilled that Barclays has returned for a second consecutive year as Liverpool Pride's headline sponsor. Their input last year was instrumental to the success of the event, and the support of Barclays and its staff was encouraging in so many ways. We're very excited to see what this year's partnerships can bring to our ninth annual Liverpool Pride Festival."

The announcement comes just a week after Manchester Airport also returned for a second year to sponsor the event - as well as pledging its support for the next three years. The UK's third largest airport will have its very own San Francisco Cabaret Stage and VIP Boston Bar at this year's Liverpool Pride.

Liverpool Pride Festival organisers are also delighted to announce that Radio City and DIVA magazine are this year's Media Partners.

Liverpool Pride has grown to become one of the city's major annual events, last year a record 8,000 people joined the march and over 50,000 festivalgoers enjoyed two days of entertainment to celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.

This year's theme is #AllTogetherNow, which encompasses every branch of the LGBT+ and wider communities coming together no matter what their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, belief or however they define themselves in celebration of equality and diversity.

The Liverpool Pride Festival 2018 marks a decade since the death of murdered gay teenager Michael Causer, who tragically lost his life on 2 August 2008.

The festival was specifically created in 2010 in Michael's memory as a way to celebrate his life and to empower the LGBT+ communities, and each year the festival coincides with the anniversary of Michael's death. The festival continues to remind the community to stand up for LGBTQ+ culture and equality through a city-wide celebration where everyone is welcome.

Liverpool Pride's #AllTogetherNow theme will also complement a city-wide season of events and performances to mark #Liverpool2018 - marking 10 years since the city was named European Capital Of Culture 2008.

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