Notts Pride has trusted us with its PR, social media and event planning for the past six years. During that time, we have helped the charity grow its profile, build a dedicated social following and secure coverage in leading regional and national publications. 

A powerhouse in Nottingham’s events calendar for decades, Notts Pride returned with another showstopping celebration in 2026. However, the event took place against an increasingly challenging backdrop. 

Journalistic interest in Pride events had declined across the country, influenced by corporate pullback, changing newsroom priorities and growing political and safety concerns for LGBTQ+ reporters. 

As a committed ally, we worked with Notts Pride to create an integrated PR and social media strategy that would capture attention, champion joy and prioritise safety. With the theme of event to be bolder and brighter than ever, the charity needed communications that would engage loyal supporters while reaching new audiences. 

Across the UK, 2026 was expected to be the most challenging year yet for Pride events, as charities faced rising costs and declining volunteer numbers. This insight identified sponsorship as a vital opportunity to strengthen the event’s financial sustainability and build greater support among Nottingham’s business community. 

We placed sponsorship call-outs at the heart of our press activity and targeted local business publications to reach potential partners. We also adapted our usual strategy, prioritising pre-event coverage over a post-event wrap-up to generate awareness and support when it mattered most. 

To strengthen relationships with existing sponsors, we featured every participating brand in each press release. This gave sponsors greater recognition and valuable exposure in the run-up to the event. 

Our social media campaign celebrated Notts Pride’s sponsors while showcasing the joy the event brings to the city. We combined practical information, including march timings, stage schedules and performer announcements, with highlights from the previous year and dedicated sponsor posts. Every piece of content reinforced a shared sense of community, love and celebration.

Building on the previous year’s record-breaking march, which attracted 10,000 people, our integrated campaign delivered widespread coverage and sustained social media growth: 

• 57 pieces of online and print coverage across titles including MSN, Nottingham Post, Yahoo News and LeftLion, achieving a combined reach of 44.2 million  
• 23 pieces of broadcast coverage across outlets including ITV News Central, BBC One East Midlands and BBC Radio Nottingham, delivering a combined reach of 3.7 million  
• Five pieces of print coverage with a total circulation of 28,800  
• 1,186 new social media followers gained in three months  
• 105,000 total social media reach  
• 2,700 likes across social content