COMMUNITY groups are being invited to bid for a grant to put Pride in our city.

Community groups are being invited to bid for money raised from Brighton Pride to ensure that the positive message of Pride has an impact on areas of Brighton and Hove all year round.

For one weekend every year, the city is taken over by a sea of rainbows.

From the parade watched by tens of thousands through to the festival in Preston Park and then the street party in St James' Street, the city comes together to mark the LGBT celebration.

Paul Kemp, director of Brighton and Hove Pride, said: “Community fundraising is central to the purpose of Pride in Brighton and Hove.

"On top of our record breaking fundraising for the Rainbow Fund we are thrilled to be able to deliver small grants funding through the social impact fund to small grass roots community organisations that can help deliver a positive community impact to the wider community."

The Pride Social Impact Fund aims to support those groups or organisations which need a little helping hand in making a difference in their community.

They do not have to be LGBT related; they don't even have to directly-linked to Pride although applicants directly impacted will be favoured.

However big or small, the only criteria is that it will brighten up people's lives by the time Pride comes round again next year.

This year, up to £12,500 is available for groups to bid for.

Funding comes from contributions made by businesses within the St James's Street Party area.

Mr Kemp said: "Pride is only able to deliver this fundraising with the help of local businesses who contribute to the fund and take part in the Pride village party.

"We’d like to encourage more local businesses across the city who benefit from the bumper weekend of business Pride brings into the city, to get involved with our fundraising efforts for all our communities.”

The application process for this year's fund is open now and bids will be considered by a panel made up of representatives from The Argus, BBC Sussex, Juice 107.2, Brighton and Hove Independent, Gscene, Latest magazine and Latest TV.

Launched in 2016, the inaugural awards saw more than £4,500 distributed to groups across the city.