Community and volunteer groups are being sought to help run an event for Dorset's young LGBTQ+ community.

Dorset Council is looking for support from the local community to help deliver Chesil Youth Pride 2025.

Now in its third year, Chesil Youth Pride is a youth-led, family event that celebrates Dorset’s LGBTQ+ young people in Weymouth, Portland and beyond. 

The council is looking for support from the local community and from voluntary organisations that would like to proactively help in the planning and running of next year's event.

Volunteers will join a working group, made up of Dorset Council employees and partners, which included Dorset Music Hub, The Drop-In and Space Youth Team at the 2024 event in July.

Local businesses that might be interested in sponsoring the event are also being encouraged to support it.

Chesil Youth Pride was created after the council received feedback from young people, saying that they felt unsafe in their communities and that they wanted a ‘safe space’ to be themselves. 

This year's event saw more than 200 young people and their families, friends, and allies attend an event at Weymouth College.

The event kicked off with a mix of stalls, music, fun Pride-based activities, food, face paint and creative activities for young people and children to get involved in.

After the event at the college, many went on to join a celebrative group parade along Weymouth’s Esplanade. 

Feedback from young people over the last two years has been unanimously positive with one young person saying the event was 'a perfect day' and a 'wonderful and inclusive place,' while another said the event allowed them to 'have fun and support their friends'.

Cllr Clare Sutton, Dorset Council cabinet member for children's services, education and skills said:  “Chesil Youth Pride is about ensuring all young people in Dorset feel a sense of belonging, safety and inclusion, and have fun at the same time.

"We are looking for community organisations to join the project group and to help deliver something really special for Dorset’s LGBTQ+ young people.

"If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.”  

To find out more and offer your support, please contact chesilyouthpride@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk