Weymouth Carnival committee folds
It doesn't look like Weymouth Carnival will be back next year
Last updated 18th Aug 2021
Weymouth Carnival will not be going ahead next year under the current committee.
The team have decided to fold the CIC (Community Interest Company) after a lack of support.
A few months ago, the committee was temporarily suspended due to inactivity.
Vice Chairman and Director of the Weymouth Carnival Group CIC, Seb Green, has made the decision on the day carnival traditionally goes ahead – the third Wednesday of August.
He told Greatest Hits Radio Dorset:
“Sadly, I am standing down as director of the CIC which unfortunately and regrettably means the CIC will fold and be no more.
“It is unlikely that there will be a carnival for 2022 unless another organisation comes forward to bring it back, but I don’t believe that will happen.”
A LACK OF SUPPORT HAS LEAD TO THE COMMITTEE FOLDING
There were only five members left on the team, which Seb said is not enough people to organise an event of that scale.
“There has been a lack of support, there is a lot of noise from the local community who seem to want the local carnival return but it hasn’t materialised in support.
“Unfortunately, it is the same old story with carnival it was a lack of financial support and volunteers. I suppose with the volunteer’s, people do not have the spare time anymore and we did have and still have the pandemic so people were not able to give the time that was necessary.”
If a company did come forward and donate £10,000 it is possible that a carnival next year could go ahead.
“I will hand the CIC over to whoever is willing to take it over and then if a business did want to donate money then that amount will be needed.
“That will enable us to pay for certain things for the event and then that will springboard us forward to allow us to do further fundraising.”
The Carnival was due to go ahead this summer, over the weekend of the 13th of August, but it was postponed due to the pandemic.
“I do feel that it will be a shame if it doesn’t return next year, however a lot of work is does needed to put it together. I will be keeping the social media active and the website active in the hope that someone will come forward and bring it back next year, in that event I will hand it over.”
“I would just like to say a personal thank you to past and present committee members who put an incredible amount of hard work, dedication and commitment in the project.”