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How do you think carnival clubs should be funded in the future?

Beka
Carnivals hold the very foundations of some of the towns together, yes even now the bigger carnivals are surviving, but what about the smaller ones? The South Somerset Circuit is nearly gone, the procession in Ilminster lasting about 25 minutes last year. 10 years ago it was an hour and a half long, most of the clubs from around there have folded due to lack of funding, and members, there were ten clubs in Ilminster alone in 1996, now there are 2. It grows increasingly difficult with each year to manage to build a carnival cart, as a member of a carnival club I am doubly aware of the money and the fundraising commitments and issues we fight with from year to year. Without some help from someone this tradition is going to die out, and if it does, everyone will lose something. Some charities rely on the donations carnivals bring, it provides entertainment and community spirit within the places it visits. If you've ever seen the community among the members of the clubs, not just the clubs singly, but as a whole it can be breathtaking, if something goes wrong before the procession its never just that club trying to fix it, there will be people and tools from every club there trying to be of support. This tradition is completely unique to Somerset, and would be a terrible shame if future generations do not get to enjoy as we do. The looks on children's faces make it all worthwhile, every year.

Hannah
I agree with black knight that not enough advertising is done. I work and live local to carnivals and yet just asking around the office no-one had heard about it! I do think local councils should help with funding. I love carnival, it's a tradition that goes back years, please don't let it die out.

karenosborne
think that lottery should help out since so much is done by carnival for charities and makes so much for them i thought lottery was there for that type of help

captain carnival
Councils,local business all benefit from the 7 county carnivals but never seem to want to help the clubs continue this somerset culture and tradition. A lot of money is made around the area at this time of year, very little of it finds its way back to the clubs. See how quickly local traders would protest if they thought the carnivals would be coming to an end or even a change the route as happened in Wells a few years ago when it was proposed not to include the High Street. About time they gave some back.Make no mistake the carnival crews will continue to entertain as long as they can but it is increasingly difficult to do so. Some locals and incomers also like to watch it but expect these monster carts to dissappear overnight so as not to disrupt their own little world as demonstrated by the nimby in the previous post. Most people would be suprised at the abuse hurled at club members outside of carnival night when trying to move around the county between carnivals. Come on guy's its once a year.

BlackKnight
Carnival isn't necessarily a bad thing and I think more TV coverage would be a good idea, there are too many people out there who don't know about Carnival and would probably enjoy the chance to see it.On the down side, there are a lot of ignorant Carnival Clubs who don't give a damn about people living near to where they build their carts.I am a couple of hundred yards from one such site and having had to put up with thumping music on and off for the past 6 months or so.