Bucks Students’ Union extremely proud to hold High Wycombe’s Pride celebrations at the BNU Campus on Saturday 13 June
“Inclusion is part of the DNA here at BNU” Damien Page, Vice-Chancellor, BNU
High Wycombe is set for a historic celebration this summer as Bucks Students’ Union hosts the town’s Pride event on the Buckinghamshire New University (BNU) Campus for the first time.
In a landmark move for the region, Bucks Students’ Union is excited that BNU has stepped up as the principal sponsor and home for the event due to be held on Saturday 13 June. The partnership is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the UK, where a major university campus serves as the primary hub for a town-wide Pride celebration.
The day, which is free for all to attend, kicks off at 11am with a unique and inclusive service, led by All Saints Church on the campus concourse, before BNU Vice-Chancellor, Damien Page, joins the Bucks Students’ Union team to officially open the festivities at noon.
Several hundred visitors are expected during the event, which runs from morning until the late-evening closing party. Organisers promise a milestone event for High Wycombe’s social calendar.
Tristan Tipping, CEO of Bucks Students’ Union, said: “We are so proud to be hosting the event and building on our work right across the year to support the University in offering the most inclusive and accessible experience we can. Having BNU as our principal sponsor and host allows us to create an incredibly visible and welcoming space for everyone in the town and the wider area, and the support from organisations like HWBIDCo and Focusrite has been invaluable.”
The campus will be transformed for the day, hosting more than 30 local businesses and organisations. Visitors can expect a festival-style atmosphere with a focus on family-friendly fun, featuring:
- live music, performers, DJs and a headphone disco
- stalls and showcases from local institutions, business and organisations
- pop-up stalls, arts and crafts, food and drink concessions and much more
- high-tech support: Further sponsorship and support comes from local audio experts Focusrite who are backing the event to ensure the soundtrack matches the festive spirit of the day, and the ever-supportive HWBIDCo.
The daytime event then leads into a huge party late into the night in Bucks Students’ Union’s award-winning venue, featuring drag cabaret, tribute acts, DJ’s and a few surprises. Please visit The Venue Bucks website for more details, including links to the social channels.
For BNU, hosting this event is more than just a sponsorship deal. It’s a statement of intent regarding the University’s inclusivity and role in the local community.
Vice-Chancellor, Damien Page, added: “Inclusion is part of the DNA here at BNU, so it feels only right that we open our campus to host High Wycombe Pride this year. We are a university that belongs to its community and partnering with the Students’ Union to celebrate our LGBTQ+ staff, students, and neighbours is something we are very happy to do. It’s going to be a great day of bringing people together, and I’m looking forward to welcoming everyone to our High Wycombe home."
Want to join?
The event is free to attend and open to all. For the full line-up of guests and activities, visit The Venue Bucks website.
