Festival finds new way to cover costs
Organisers of the annual East Finchley Festival have made two major announcements: the event is now carbon neutral and it is moving into a new funding model to keep it thriving long into the future.
The massively popular community party will be celebrating its 50th year when it takes place on Sunday 23 June in Cherry Tree Wood. The day will feature another stellar line-up of performers on two stages, plus artisan market stalls, children’s activities and an array of food and drink.
In recent years, the volunteers who run the festival have worked hard to make it more sustainable by banning plastic and single-use disposables, getting rid of the diesel-powered rides and introducing environmentally-friendly cups and packaging.
Last year, they went one step further by running one stage entirely on solar power, provided by SouthEast London Community Energy, and the other with renewable HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) fuel.
Now following an audit by Josh King of Leaf Ray, an East Finchley-based sustainability consultancy, the festival has been officially declared carbon neutral. “The festival is now greener than ever,” said Alison Roberts, from the organising team.
Leaner funding model
At the same time, the team has decided to put in place a new funding model. The festival is and always has been free to anyone who turns up to enjoy it but still costs a large amount of money to run each year, for example to cover on-site facilities, public insurance and stage set-up costs.
Mike Hughes from the organising team said the event had been supported by generous sponsorships from local businesses over the years but inflation along with other economic factors are now putting its long-term future at risk.
Moving away from single organisations sponsoring ‘big ticket’ items like the main or community stage, they are now looking for as many local businesses as possible to contribute to sponsoring ‘the festival’ as a whole. “The new model will make it possible for more local businesses to get involved, and we believe that getting their name and logo on the stage and all our posters gives them more visibility for a smaller outlay,” said Mike.
Anyone wishing to preserve this important community event for the next 50 years by contributing sponsorship can contact: organisers@eastfinchleyfestival.org. Find out more at: eastfinchleyfestival.org/sponsorship
