Barnsley Pride is proud to host The Big Queer Prom as our annual fundraiser because it’s more than just a fundraiser — it’s a joyful act of visibility, celebration, and community care. For many LGBTQ+ people, especially in smaller towns, traditional rites of passage like prom weren’t always safe, welcoming, or truly ours. The Big Queer Prom reclaims that moment and turns it into something affirming, inclusive, and unapologetically queer.

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Funds raised from The Big Queer Prom directly support Barnsley Pride’s year-round work: creating safe spaces, amplifying LGBTQ+ voices, supporting local community projects, and ensuring pride in Barnsley remains accessible, grassroots, and community-led. By dancing, dressing up, and celebrating together, we’re not just having a great night — we’re helping sustain a free pride that exists for everyone, all year round.

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It’s also about visibility. When we create events that centre LGBTQ+ joy, we challenge the idea that queer stories are only about struggle. We show that our community deserves celebration, romance, glamour, and fun just as much as anyone else.

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 Marketing and Communications Lead for  Barnsley Pride, Macauley  said "For younger LGBTQ+ people, events like this send a powerful message: there is a future full of connection and belonging. For older generations, it can be a chance to reclaim something they never had — a joyful do-over on their own terms.  At its heart, an LGBTQ+ prom is about community. It’s about coming together in a space that feels safe, affirming, and full of love. It’s about turning what may have once felt isolating into something empowering."

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Tickets will include arrival drink and 3-course meal  and will be released later on in the year.  

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Can I sponsor this event?

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Alongside the main event, The Big Queer Prom will become a standout date in the local LGBTQ+ calendar. The annual fundraiser offers an inclusive, celebratory prom experience for those who may have missed out on an authentic or safe prom experience in their youth. The event combines glamour, music and community spirit while raising vital funds to support pride activities throughout the year.

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Jo, Barnsley Pride's Charity Operations Lead said:  “Community support and sponsorship are essential to everything we do. Partnering with local and regional organisations not only helps us deliver high-quality, safe and accessible events, but it also sends a powerful message of inclusion and allyship. Sponsorship isn’t just about branding — it’s about standing visibly with the LGBTQ+ community.”

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Sponsorship packages are available at a range of levels for both events, offering benefits such as brand visibility, on-stage acknowledgements, promotional opportunities and engagement with a diverse and engaged audience. Organisers are particularly keen to work with businesses that share Pride’s commitment to equality, diversity and community wellbeing.