Publication Date: 25-09-2024 09:00
Bellway’s donation supports Great Dunmow’s Olympic city-themed carnival day
Great Dunmow Carnival brought the crowds out for its Olympic city-themed parade through the town and entertainment at the Recreation Ground.
Co-chair of the carnival committee Nicola Insley paid tribute to the sponsors, advertisers and stallholders whose contributions enabled the event to provide free entertainment for the community and a chance for local charities to boost their funds.
Bellway, which is building new homes at its Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange development in the town, donated £450 towards running the carnival, which took place on Saturday 21 September.
Nicola said: “I’d like to say thank you to Bellway for their sponsorship of the Great Dunmow carnival. Sponsorship is absolutely crucial to running our event as it helps pay for things such as the entertainments and the fireworks in the evening.
“Without our sponsors we can’t do it. It costs £16,000 annually to run the carnival and we rely entirely on sponsorship, and the payments from advertisers in the programme and stallholders. It’s an awful lot of money to raise.
“The carnival is all about bringing the community together and it’s a free event so everybody can enjoy it. It raises the profiles of businesses and local clubs who get involved and many of the stalls are from local charities so it’s an important event for them too.”
Every year the carnival committee chooses two small local charities to support through the bucket collection during the procession and the donations for car parking. This year they raised money for the Uttlesford Citizens Advice and The Alexa Wilson Trust.
The event included a shop window competition for local businesses. After the parade, there were displays from organisations and schools, performances by local musicians and a fireworks display.
Bellway Essex Sales Manager Georgia Smith said: “The Great Dunmow Carnival is such an important event for the local community, as it brings people from all walks of life together to enjoy free, family-friendly entertainment. Not only that, but it also raises money for good causes and provides a platform for local organisations and charities to raise awareness of what they do.
“The carnival is a credit to the town and especially the hardworking committee and all those who take part. This is the second year we have sponsored the event and we are very happy to play our part in making it a success.”
Bellway Essex is building 266 homes at Sapphire Fields at Great Dunmow Grange, off Stortford Road.
For more information about the development, visit https://www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/essex/sapphire-fields-at-great-dunmow-grange or call 01371 290089.
