WHAT'S AROUND?BECAUSE PRIDE IS MORE THAN A ONE DAY FLING.

Barnsley Pride isn’t just behind the big Pride celebration in Barnsley — it also runs “Pride in the Community”, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, a year-round programme of activities, workshops, social groups and support that helps promote, celebrate and support LGBTQ+ people and allies across the borough.

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Events and Workshops

Barnsley Pride in the Community organises and supports a variety of events and workshops throughout the year, designed to bring people together, share learning and build understanding. The focus is on inclusivity, activism and celebration — not just one-day festivals. These activities can include:

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• Community social events and gatherings outside the annual parade and festival, aiming to keep LGBTQ+ people connected year-round.

• Workshops on LGBTQ+ awareness and inclusion, often in partnership with local organisations, aimed at helping employers, local groups and institutions better understand queer experiences and support equity.

• Creative, educational and awareness-raising sessions that explore identity, safety and belonging — sometimes in collaboration with places like Barnsley Civic and other community partners.

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These events are rooted in community leadership, emphasising shared experience and empowerment rather than commercial entertainment.

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Social Groups

Social groups supported through Barnsley Pride in the Community give LGBTQ+ individuals spaces to meet, relax and build meaningful connections throughout the year:

• Peer-led meetups and activity groups, which may be monthly or more frequent, help foster friendships beyond the festival season.

• Collaborative activities, sometimes through local partners like Barnsley Civic’s LGBTQ+ focus projects (e.g., Civic Pride Singers), and Trans-Form Barnsley provide creative community spaces where people can share interests and connect.

• Listings and signposting to other LGBTQ+-oriented social communities are available so individuals can find groups that match their interests and needs.

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These social opportunities are important for reducing isolation and making the broader Barnsley community feel more welcoming and interconnected.

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Support Services

Pride in the Community also acts as a hub for support and signposting, helping people access services that meet emotional, social and practical needs. Some aspects include:

• A community-curated database of local support services, helping people quickly find help for wellbeing, health, safety and identity-related concerns.

• Promotion of hate crime awareness and partnership activities with local agencies to raise understanding and provide safer spaces for LGBTQ+ people.

• Connection to wider regional and national organisations that offer specialist support — such as youth groups, gender identity support services, and mental health resources — even if not directly run by Pride itself.

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The ethos is that “there’s nothing wrong with asking for help” and that everyone should be able to find support that fits them, whether they’re young, older, questioning, newly out, or somewhere else on the queer spectrum.

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Overall, Barnsley Pride in the Community plays an ongoing role beyond the one day event — building supportive spaces, running workshops and connecting people with services that strengthen community bonds and promote dignity and inclusion across Barnsley.