The Pride Community Foundation (PCF) exists to empower and uplift LGBTQ+ communities by giving back where it matters most — and by working to secure lasting, structural change.

PCF was founded in 2019 by Brighton Pride, originally created as a place to responsibly hold and steward funds raised through the city’s annual Pride celebrations. From the very beginning, the intention was clear: money raised by the community should ultimately benefit the community.

For several years, PCF quietly safeguarded these funds while Brighton & Hove benefited from a strong local ecosystem of LGBTQ+ organisations and grant-giving structures. That changed in 2025, when the city’s main LGBTQ+ grant-giving organisation ceased operations. Suddenly, a significant gap emerged — and with it, an urgent question: where should community funding live now?

Brighton Pride and local partners consulted widely with the LGBTQ+ community. The message was consistent and unmistakable: grant-giving should remain rooted in Brighton & Hove, shaped by local voices and accountable to the people it exists to serve. That moment marked PCF’s transition from a dormant foundation into an active force for change.

In April 2025, Leslie Clarke was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer and tasked with building the organisation from the ground up. This included overhauling PCF’s governance structures, defining a clear strategic direction, and establishing PCF not only as a grant-making body, but as a campaigning organisation committed to improving LGBTQ+ equality across the United Kingdom.

A major milestone followed shortly after. In May 2025, Brighton & Hove’s longstanding LGBTQ+ community magazine, Scene, was facing an uncertain future and searching for a new home. After careful discussions, and with approval from the Charity Commission, Scene was transferred to PCF as a protected community asset. This ensured that one of the UK’s most important LGBTQ+ media platforms would remain independent, community-led and purpose-driven.

Since then, Scene has been undergoing its most significant transformation since its founding in 1993 as The Queer Guide. Under PCF’s stewardship, the publication is evolving to meet the needs of a new generation while staying true to its roots. In February 2026, Scene returns to print and will once again be available in LGBTQ+ venues — not just locally, but across the UK.

Alongside grant-giving and community media, PCF has begun building strong relationships with local and national politicians, positioning the organisation as a credible, informed and values-driven voice in policy conversations. A dedicated research project is currently underway, designed to inform future campaigns and ensure PCF’s advocacy is evidence-based, strategic and grounded in lived experience.

In November 2025, PCF reached another important milestone with the appointment of its first Board Chair, Luciana Cousin, strengthening the organisation’s leadership and long-term governance.

Today, PCF operates at the intersection of funding, media and campaigning. Through our grantmaking, we support projects that provide vital services, create safe spaces and celebrate the diversity of LGBTQ+ life. Through our campaigns and partnerships, we challenge discrimination, counter division and work to keep the UK on a progressive path for LGBTQ+ equality.

Born out of the spirit of Pride, PCF stands for unity, resilience and hope. Every grant we award, every story we help tell, and every campaign we run is an investment in a future where LGBTQ+ people are not only accepted, but celebrated — and free to thrive.