SWINDON and Wiltshire Pride will return this year with two events planned for the summer.

In March, the team behind the popular annual celebration cancelled the usual Town Gardens festivities and Old Town march which had taken place many times over the last 12 years.

Despite having plenty of funds and interested sponsors, the committee had struggled to find replacements for members who had retired in 2021, so smaller events like a picnic were being considered instead.

But now, thanks to support from volunteers, there will indeed be a march through the town - but in a different place than before.

People can gather outside the H&M in The Parade at 11am on Saturday, August 13 before the Pride March sets off at 11.30am, makes its way through the town centre and towards the town hall, then arrives at Queens Park for a picnic with music, a pop-up shop and giant deck chair.

Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and colourful Pride flags with them to the outdoor gathering, which is being sponsored by Nationwide.

Swindon and Wiltshire Pride is hoping to recruit more than 100 volunteers to supervise on the day and make the event safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone.

A spokesperson for the community group said: “The Pride March is what makes Pride. We are incredibly excited about returning to the streets of Swindon for 2022.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of Pride marches in the UK, with the march being an integral part of what Swindon & Wiltshire Pride is – hundreds of people showing their support for LGBT+ lives and rights.

"Pride is a protest! We use our political voice to amplify, maintain, and further LGBTQIA+ human rights in Swindon, Wiltshire and beyond.

"It is a bold statement for equality, diversity and inclusion: to celebrate our community and to show that hatred and prejudice have no place in our town or anywhere.

"We encourage community groups, charities, public sector organisations and businesses who actively support LGBTQIA+ human rights to join us."

This is the first Swindon Pride event in three years as the pandemic prevented the 2020 and 2021 festivities from going ahead.

Register a place in the procession for free at www.swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk/event-details/ or attend the picnic at www.swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk/pridepicnic

To volunteer, fill in the online form at https://bit.ly/3wXduTX or join the committee at www.swindonwiltshirepride.co.uk/joinpride