ILKLEY Carnival is inviting local groups and organisations to apply to be beneficiaries of the 2024 May Day bank holiday event.

One local group will have the chance to receive 50 per cent of the profits from the spectacular family day on Monday, May 6, 2024, with the remaining 50 per cent distributed amongst other local good causes.

Ilkley Carnival donated just over £24k to local charities and organisations following the 2023 Coronation-themed event and in just over 10 years, £150k of funds raised through the event have been donated to groups across the local community.

Carnival chair Andrew Stacey says: “Ilkley Carnival is all about the community. The event itself is a celebration of the town with everyone getting involved from schools and extracurricular clubs to local charities, organisations and businesses. That’s why it means so much to be able to put the profits back into the community itself and help make a real difference to our wonderful organisations.”

He added: “We are now looking for the group, the organisation or the charity that will be selected to receive the lion’s share of the 2024 funds. Applicants need to demonstrate where the money will go, how it will be used and what value they can bring to help us make 2024 the best Ilkley Carnival ever.”

Applications can be found on the Ilkley Carnival website and shortlisted organisations will be invited to interview at the Carnival’s headquarters on The Grove on the evening of Monday, November 20th.

Every year Ilkley Carnival returns profits from ticket sales, sponsorship and money collected on the day, to the local community. For 2023, a range of local organisations and groups benefitted from this year’s profits, with the primary beneficiary status being shared between Ilkley Amateur Operatic Society and Ben Rhydding Scouts and Guides.

The theatre group, which for 100 years has nurtured and showcased the talents of generations of local children, teenagers and adults, is using its donation to help refurbish its rehearsal premises, “Operatic House”, on Leeds Road. The remaining primary beneficiary funds were divided between Ben Rhydding Scouts and Guides to support its 75th anniversary of links with The Hague and other local groups who actively support and help at the annual event.

Andrew added: “As Ilkley Carnival grows in size, reputation and sheer popularity, its potential for raising the sort of funds that can make a significant difference to local organisations or charities gets even bigger. Our beneficiaries are at the very heart of our annual community event and we are looking forward to finding out more about the fantastic work that that Ilkley Carnival can support through this all-important application process.”

Parties interested in applying for beneficiary status can do so online through the Ilkley Carnival website https://www.ilkleycarnival.org/primary-beneficiary/ or by emailing Ilkley Carnival secretary Mari Hunt for an application form on carnisec@gmail.com. Deadline for applications is November 13 and successful shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview at 32-24 The Grove on the evening of Monday, November 20.

If you are interested in sponsorship, advertising or simply volunteering your time, please contact Ilkley Carnival Chairman Andrew Stacey on 07951 890836 for more details.