Liverpool Pride has announced details of a revised format of the event for 2015 due to the charity’s financial constraints. Changes to the event on Saturday, 1 August, mean that there will be no event at the Pier Head as originally announced, nor road closures at the Stanley Street Quarter. There will also be no outdoor alcohol drinking zones.

However, the Pride March will go ahead making its way from St George’s Hall through the city centre. A programme of activities will also take place across the city, including market, education and community zone, workshops, guest speakers, acoustic music, a mobile cinema and a family zone, with locations including Stanley Street Quarter.

Established in 2010, Liverpool Pride is a charity run entirely by volunteers. This year the organising charity has faced difficulties in attracting additional sponsors to help fund the format that attenders have come to expect in recent years, due to the current economic climate and escalating event costs.

Liverpool Pride is one of the city’s most popular, visual and flamboyant events in the calendar. It attracts thousands of colourful characters in creative costumes, as well as families, who take to the streets to support the Pride cause.

This year’s theme, as voted for by the public, is Love Is No Crime – and attenders are encouraged to take part in the programme dressed in their most wild and wonderful interpretations of the theme.

The date of Liverpool Pride always coincides with the anniversary of when murdered gay teenager Michael Causer tragically lost his life. Michael died on 2 August 2008, and the festival was specifically created in his memory as a way to celebrate his life and empower the LGBT communities. This year’s Liverpool Pride takes place a week before what would have also been Michael’s 26th birthday.

Liverpool Pride 2015 is being supported by main sponsors Homes For Everyone and Liverpool City Council. Supporters also include After Adoption, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Hugh Baird College, Unison North West LGBT, and Barefoot Wine.

Joan Burnett, Trustee of Liverpool Pride Charity said: ‘This has been an extremely difficult year for the Liverpool Pride charity in financial terms, after the weather affected 2014’s event adversely. We have worked very hard to bring the charity out of a deficit situation, meaning we can focus on a different kind of event this year, whilst working towards sustainability for 2016.’

Liverpool Pride 2015 will be brought to a poignant close with the Michael Causer Vigil on Sunday, 2 August, the vigil will take place in Temple Square (between Victoria St and Dale St from 5.30pm.

A new fringe event for 2015 is the Stanley Street Quarter Pride Weekend, which will run alongside Liverpool Pride, from Friday to Sunday (31 July to 2 August). The Stanley Street Quarter venues are hosting entertainment to complement the festival and some bars will be ticketed. Stanley Street will not be closed and outdoor drinking is not permitted.

Andy Herring, Chair of the Stanley Street Quarter, added: ‘It is a great shame that Liverpool Pride will not take place in its usual format this year, but on a positive note, the Stanley Street Quarter and its venues are working together to create a fantastic weekend festival to run alongside the event. We have lots of exciting entertainment planned and we’re looking forward to seeing everyone over the weekend.

Liverpool Pride charity are reaching out to the business and local community for support to enable a Pride event to continue in the future. If anybody would like to support they should get in touch via the Liverpool Pride website.

Keep up to date with Pride Liverpool announcements by visiting liverpoolpride.co.uk where people can also register to volunteer or find out about sponsorship opportunities.