Carnivals call for government help as costs rise

Organisers of an historic Somerset carnival are calling for the government to help with increasing financial pressures.

Bridgwater Carnival's committee and local MP Ashley Fox are meeting Culture Minister Stephanie Peacock to discuss the financial stress charities are under to host the big events.

Carnival president Dave Creedy said he wants the government to cut VAT for charities and increase the gift-aid threshold on small donations amid rising operating costs.

A government spokesperson said it is "committed to supporting the sector" through the upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy and emphasised the UK has "the world's most generous tax regimes for the sector".

"We cannot claim the VAT on our expenditure. We can recover some things, but not on our expenses costs, so if that could be changed that would make a massive difference," said Creedy.

"Gift aid is something we're looking at, we're going to bring that up. It was started back in 2013 I think and it was originally set up [so] the maximum you could claim was £1,250 a year, that's now £2,000 a year.

"We would love, 10 years on, for it to be doubled or trebled."

Jason Baker, chair of the Chard Carnival committee, said organisers across Somerset and beyond are also feeling the pinch.

"Every year everything goes up, insurance goes up, first aid, road closures - everything gets more expensive," he said.

"We find ourselves asking the same people to donate. We need to embrace the whole of the carnival world and find other ways of finding income streams."

A government spokesperson said: "We're committed to supporting the sector through the upcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy that will set out a long-term plan to increase visitor flows across the UK, boost value and deliver sustainable growth.

"The UK also has one of the world's most generous tax regimes for the sector, providing over £7 billion in support last year alone, including exemptions from paying business rates, a range of VAT reliefs and the long-running Gift Aid scheme."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.