Chair Of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride To Step Down

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride has announced that chairperson Jo Sharpe will be stepping down from the role in the Autumn, following 12 years at the organisation and many years at the helm.

Since joining Pride, Jo has seen the organisation grow to become Wiltshire’s biggest LGBTQ+ festival, with the annual family-friendly Pride festival an important day in the town’s calendar. The event regularly attracts over 10000 people throughout the day, raising over £80000 through the charity’s history, ensuring the event remains free to attend for the community.

When Jo Sharpe joined Pride in 2008 it was then called Swindon Pride, expanding throughout Wiltshire in 2009, the same year Jo became chair.

Jo has played a pivotal role in creating safe spaces for thousands of LGBTQ+ people within the town, with over 64,000 people recognising the Town Gardens as the spiritual home of Pride since the festival began in 2008. Jo was also instrumental in the organisation becoming a recognised charity in 2019, which has since seen the LGBTQ+ charity continue to grow.

Commenting on her time at the charity Jo said ‘When I first joined Pride, I had limited experience in running events but with the support of some outstanding individuals, SWP has continued to grow each year while helping provide a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community and encourage support from the wider community.

I would like to thank all of the committee members and trustees who volunteer tirelessly each year for their part in the journey of making SWP what it is today. Everyone should be extremely proud. I encourage people to come forward, join the Pride Family, to develop skills or discover new ones, while helping to make 2022 another successful year’.

Phoenix Stewart, Community Engagement Manager said: “On behalf of the committee and the people of Wiltshire I would like to thank Jo for her outstanding work in making the charity what it is today. Jo leaves us in a strong position with an excellent team. We all wish Jo the best for the future and hope that she enjoys a relaxing change of pace, we’re all going to miss her dearly. “
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The Pride committee are now looking for a new chairperson to take the charity forward, all those interested in applying should email admin@swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk.