THE Swindon & Wiltshire Pride festival will return for its 12th year next summer.

The LGBTQ+ event will take place at Town Gardens, Old Town, on Saturday, August 8 2020.

The theme is 'We Are Family’ – a celebration of love, unity and family. Nationwide will once again sponsor the festival.

Chair Jo Sharpe said: "We have been given incredible support over the last 12 months, and we’re so proud of the feedback we received following the 2019 event; to have record numbers in the parade and 10,000 people attend pride throughout the day was really special.

"We have been hard at work in preparations for next year, to have Nationwide Building Society on board again is fantastic and we’re so excited to finally announce the 2020 date and theme.”

From September 2020 new regulations for teaching LGBTQ+ relationships and sex education in English schools will come into force, and there will be the inclusion of a Youth Zone at the festival next year.

Tony Prestedge, Deputy CEO and LGBTQ+ sponsor at Nationwide, said: “I’m thrilled that we are again sponsoring Swindon & Wiltshire Pride in 2020, as an employer and financial services provider which values diversity and promotes inclusion. We are also a large employer in the area and this provides an opportunity for our colleagues to come together with our members and the local community.”

For more details about Swindon & Wiltshire Pride and to get involved visit www.swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk.