CARNIVAL Clubs, like many other organisations, have suffered greatly due to the impact of Covid-19.

And so after Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival received a grant from the Government's Culture Recovery Fund, the organisers decided to give £28,500 to their 16 affiliated carnival clubs.

Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival received £54,177 in the second round of the Culture Recovery Fund.

Despite cancelling the 2021 celebrations, the organisation and carnival clubs clubs still face financial expenditure for insurances, utility services, maintenance of premises and more.

They have also lost out on vital fundraising opportunities, which would usually help them meet their everyday costs.

Cheques to the carnival clubs were presented to the Bridgwater Gangs and Features by Mike Crocker, president of Bridgwater Carnival.

“The aim of the Cultural Recovery Fund programme is to support cultural organisations as they transition back to a viable and sustainable operating model during April – June 2021," he said.

"The carnival committee was able to take the lead in obtaining funds and we are delighted that we are able to support all Bridgwater carnival clubs who are associated with the town’s Gangs & Features organisation.”

The president of Bridgwater Gangs & Features, Arthur Leigh, thanked them for the funding.

“On behalf of the clubs involved, I would like to thank the committee for their splendid efforts in securing funding in this way which will be a great boost in helping our locally based carnival clubs survive this very difficult period,” he added.

Bridgwater Carnival was one of over 2,700 organisations to be offered awards in April as part of the second round of the Cultural Recovery Fund totalling over £390 million, and which has been administered by Arts Council England.