How to Build a Grassroots Pride Without Corporate Sponsorship: Inspiration and Resources to Read, Listen and Watch.
2026 marks Margate Pride’s 10th year — and what a 10 years it has been!
From our very first parade, so small that Margate Pride co-founder Amy Zing actually missed it while parking her car, to a queer, all-year programme of events, exhibitions, talks, activism, parties and heritage projects, so much has happened.
Much of it has been built on fumes, enthusiasm, cardboard and a lot of hard work. People have volunteered their time, shared their skills and shown up to support the LGBTQ+ community. As they say, it takes a village — or perhaps, in our case, a small seaside town — to make a Pride.
Preserving 10 years of Margate Pride
As part of The Heritage Hotline project, we’re archiving the last 10 years of Margate Pride (and beyond), making sure this important part of our history isn’t lost to an ancient Google Drive — the modern-day equivalent of dusty boxes in the attic.
Photos, videos, ephemera and memories will be kept safe between The Bishopsgate Institute, the Queer Heritage South digital archive and The Margate Queer Library.
There’s nothing quite like a big anniversary and heritage project to get you reflecting on the journey so far. And one of the questions Team Margate Pride is asked most often is:
How do you set up and sustain a community-led, grassroots Pride while resisting corporate sponsorship?
So, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to help answer that question.
A DIY guide to starting a grassroots Pride
Amy Zing has pulled together a DIY zine-style handbook packed with advice on starting a Pride, and lessons learned along the way, illustrated with fuzzy felt!
It delves into Margate Pride’s origin story and includes practical advice on what makes a Pride, fundraising, and most importantly, how not to have a breakdown.
As Amy says:
“Lead with love. It’s more than a job, it’s a life, it’s family, it’s a community, it’s a vibe.”
Download Amy’s guide to starting a grassroots Pride.
Listen: How to create a grassroots Pride without corporate sponsorship
To accompany the guide, Margate Pride archivist Dr Sé Malaïka, in partnership with Queer AF, has made a podcast episode exploring how Margate Pride has sustained its community-focused DIY origins, interviewing members of the pride team and Margate queers to find out.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
Watch: Talk of the Town
And finally, if you need a reminder of what it’s all about — or you’re looking for a little inspiration to start a Pride of your own — check out Talk of the Town, a new film capturing what Margate Pride means to our community.
Made in collaboration with poet Kit Griffiths, Talk of the Town weaves together footage captured by our community with Kit’s words and stories shared by the people who make Margate Pride what it is.
Here’s to another 10 years of Margate Pride — and beyond!
This project was made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to research, preserve and share Thanet’s LGBTQ+ history, which has long been overlooked.