After a challenging year, a fundraiser to enable Bridport's popular folk festival can go ahead has been launched.

Organisers plan to hold the event from August 13 to 15 in the town, but need the help and support of the community to make it happen.

Chris Deacon, organiser of Bridport Folk Festival, said: "It has been difficult as we have seen Jurassic Field's decision to cancel, but from last year, we had some of the ground work done so we could pick up and run with it to an extent - although it's not that easy.

"We had moved it to the hat festival date as I was told it was not going ahead and having booked for that date, we found out the hat festival committee hadn't made up its mind, so we moved it to August."

He said that if there was to be another spike in coronavirus cases in the summer towards the end of July, the festival would be cancelled.

"We will go with the flow and even last minute if there is a significant threat, we will pull it," Chris added.

"I am in this to provide entertainment, provide an opportunity for musicians and support charities. I have been totally overwhelmed by the response and musicians are relieved.

"Bridport is a fantastic town, it's my home town from childhood and anything that is going to be beneficial or entertaining is vital in this town."

That is why organisers are so keen for this year's event to go ahead and have launched a Crowdfunder to raise £2,300.

Chris said: "We carry through year to year a base fund and what we raise at the folk festival above that goes to charity.

"Last year we decided that rather than have the money sitting in the bank we would have spent and recouped at the event, we decided to disperse it to good causes, including Cupboard Love Food Bank, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and more in the belief that at the end of the year and the beginning of this year we could recoup it through fundraising events, but that didn't happen.

"Consequently, we are very short on budget but a lot of local folk and other musicians have offered to busk for us. Buskers in Bucky Doo Square in June and July have pledged their donations to us.

"We have had so much support and it's looking good.

"We rely on generous people and there is no other generous town than Bridport in time, support and donations.

"I have been doing this since 2017 and I wouldn't want to put on a folk festival in any other town.

"Bridport has a huge beating heart in so many ways and, like any heart, needs to be sustained and fed."

This year's event will support The Burrough Harmony Centre, which will be Bridport Folk Festival's principal charity.

"I believe that the last 15/16 months has proved so hard for people in all walks of life and Harmony is very vital and I think deserves our support," Chris said.

"None of this can be done without the blessing of the town council and its officers, who have been with us every step of the way and nothing is too much trouble.

"We are also really grateful to all the pubs that have supported us, in particular those who are providing venues."

To donate to the Crowdfunder, visit crowfunder.co.uk

Volunteers are also needed to help during the folk festival, even for just a couple of hours.

For more information, visit bridportfolkfestival.com

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