Swindon & Wiltshire Pride is celebrating a major milestone this summer as its community hub marks one year since returning to The Brunel Swindon.
The anniversary comes during Pride Month and just weeks before the organisation’s annual Pride Festival, which is set to return to GWR Park in August.
Since reopening its doors at The Brunel on July 1 last year, the Pride Hub has become a regular meeting place for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, providing a safe and welcoming space in the heart of the town centre.
The hub, which operates every Saturday and on selected additional days during school holidays, hosts a range of community activities and offers a place where people can meet, socialise and access support.
Heather Pyke, who runs the Pride Hub, said returning to The Brunel Swindon had been an important step for the organisation.
She said the location offers a welcoming environment and an added sense of security by being situated away from the high street, while praising the support received from the centre’s management and staff since the hub reopened.
The facility has grown into an important focal point for the local LGBTQIA+ community, providing a space where visitors can relax, meet friends and connect with others.
Neil Reeves said the hub’s flexibility and central location had helped it become a valued community resource.
The anniversary is one of two major celebrations for the organisation this year, with preparations also underway for the return of the annual Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Festival.
Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted around 16,500 visitors, organisers are expecting another large turnout when the festival returns to GWR Park on 15 August.
The event will once again begin with the traditional Pride march through the town centre before participants make their way to the park for a day of entertainment, community activities and celebrations.
Visitors can expect live music, food vendors, community stalls and family-friendly activities throughout the afternoon, with organisers promising a vibrant celebration of diversity and inclusion.
Representatives from The Brunel Swindon have welcomed the anniversary, describing the Pride Hub as an important addition to the centre and praising the positive atmosphere it has created over the past year.
A spokesperson for the shopping centre said the team was proud to support the hub and looked forward to seeing the community come together again for the festival later this summer.
With the Pride Hub continuing to grow and another major festival on the horizon, organisers say the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past year while looking ahead to an exciting summer of celebrations.
