Forest Gate Festival
From "People Powered Forest Gate & Maryland"
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Proposed budget
GBP 13,250
Description
Forest Gate Festival has been running every year since 2000, apart from two covid years. 2025 was a bumper year, with visitor numbers estimated to be over 4000. We had over a hundred stalls: community stalls, health stalls, arts and crafts, groups for young people, sport and food spanning the globe. There were two stages with many local entertainers (choirs, soloists and bands). Kay Rowe nursery ran sessions for under 8s: play activities, stories, a play, plus a bouncy castle. On the street were art and physical activities for older children. Also on the street, we had a drumming band, stilt walkers and a dog show.
The festival is a day out for the community, for neighbours to meet neighbours, and to greet friends you haven’t seen over the year. In 2026, we want to build on what we already have and to raise the health and the well being aspect, with more health stalls, activities such as balanced diet & cooking demonstrations, Tai chi, self defence, dance, and activities that assist bringing people out of loneliness such as art, poetry, gardening, and various sports (cycling, football, table tennis, walking, boxing, running, a climbing wall etc). We want a fun festival in addition to enhancing the health of our locale.
Comments(16)
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Profile of Fiona Lin
Posted by:Fiona Lin
9 months ago
We love attending this festival. It brings so much nice energy, and is a lot of fun for everyone. It’s great to meet people who live nearby, local businesses, and celebrate the local community. Hope it keeps happening!
Profile of Jonathan Ashton
Posted by:Jonathan Ashton
9 months ago
What I love most about being a part of this festival is meeting all of our different stall holders - incredible creatives and lovely food and drink from the community. Sometimes it's also a chance to bring something to Forest Gate we wouldn't normally have too. What would people like to see more of with stalls?
Profile of Tessa Schrempf
Posted by:Tessa Schrempf
9 months ago
I agree - although this year we actually had 1200 or 1400 people on the road at any one time (is that right, Ben?). We were so surprised by it when we did the count as it surpassed all estimates but it shows what a special community event this is. It’s a shame to be worried every year whether we can afford it the next year and to have zero certainty to fingers crossed the community support shows this is an all-time family favourite (and has been for a quarter century!).
What would people like to see more of in 2026? Any ideas?
Profile of Josie Scerri
Posted by:Josie Scerri
9 months ago
The funding for this would target a really large audience. If 4-5,000 people attend then surely that’s a good amount per head to use the money on.
Profile of Derek Smith
Posted by:Derek Smith
9 months ago
This year, I estimated we had 4000 or so, coming throughout the day. Ben tells me this is low. He did some counting at two different times, but it is so difficult counting people at a busy street festival. There are two ways in, from Woodgrange, and from Richmond Road. All day, they are coming and they are leaving. The crowds were thicker this year, denser, the weather was OK, and I felt it was a record attendance, having come to many Forest Gate Festivals. What do others think?
Profile of Josie Scerri
Posted by:Josie Scerri
9 months ago
@Derek Smith yes agree felt like there were more people there than previous 5 years. The money would target so many people from different backgrounds including people who don’t always attend other events or engage with other local ventures, so this feels like a really good use of funding. Hope people vote for this.
Profile of Jacqui Newling
Posted by:Jacqui Newling
9 months ago
The festival has been running for so many years and really showcases the best of forest gate community spirit. It would be a shame to lose it, I hope we can secure the budget needed to keep this lovely day alive for a few more years!
Profile of Josie Scerri
Posted by:Josie Scerri
9 months ago
The festival is such a great way to bring the whole community together and to showcase local artists and artisans. Would be such a shame to lose it. With limited sponsorships available, the money is essential to keep it going.
Profile of Derek Smith
Posted by:Derek Smith
9 months ago
@Josie Scerri I agree, Josie. Last year we were low on funds, so could pay only a few performers. We want a balance of say professional musicians as wall as amateurs, but to do that we need the money. Obviously, we can work on the cheap, but with 4000+ attendees at the last we want to showcase the best in the area.
Profile of Josie Scerri
Posted by:Josie Scerri
9 months ago
@Derek Smith yes for sure. Also be nice to be able to financially support the artists contributing to the festival as none of the musicians were paid and would be great to be able to give them some money to perform. Thanks Derek
Profile of Derek Smith
Posted by:Derek Smith
9 months ago
OK, Jay. Here's the summary. £6050 covers the overheads of the festival (First Aid, Insurance, Event Licence, Music Licence, Stage & Sound, Road Signs, Gazebo Hire). That's a lot of money before we down to the fun of the festival. Having got the overheads in place, £2500 pays entertainers on the stage and the street, £1300 goes to children's play and art, £1400 for a climbing wall (loved by teenagers), and £2000 into Health & Well being, covering mental health, yoga, Tai Chi, sport, cooking demonstrations, art, and children's groups. Essentially the grant would cover a year of the festival, and take us into 2027 with our bank account intact which is a healthy start. In brief, the money pays for a fun day out for all ages, with special emphasis on youth and health and wellbeing.
Profile of Derek Smith
Posted by:Derek Smith
9 months ago
@Derek Smith This is somewhat confusing. I have replied but it seems like a separate item. But I won't repeat it. It says how we intend to spend any grant we get. I was puzzled too by the numbers by each group. I thought they were votes received, but now I think its comments.
Profile of Jay Smith
Posted by:Jay Smith
9 months ago
@Derek Smith Thank you for your reply as hardly any other projects have bothered to answer me and those that have haven't actually answered what I asked. The festival is a great event and Ive supported it for many years, just £13k is a lot for a one-day event when its council money. The breakdown is helpful to understand why so high. The £2500 on entertainers and the £2000 on health seem ok as I know you have a lot of providers. What is the £1300 on childrens play though as I walked by the Makedo bit last year but that cant be £1300? I dont remember the climbing wall last year, is that new, can you keep it for future events? Is any of the stuff in that first £6k stuff you can keep for future years or is it all just hire costs?
I saw somewhere else that the festival makes a loss every year. As much as i love it this festival isnt sustainable as it currently is though Im sure you've already looked at everywhere you can squeeze income out of.
Profile of Jay Smith
Posted by:Jay Smith
9 months ago
Hello. I couldn’t get to the voting event yesterday so I’m asking the same questions what I’d ask in person – what is the money being spent on? As in a rough breakdown as I want to know what I will actually get for my vote?
Profile of Derek Smith
Posted by:Derek Smith
9 months ago
@Jay Smith We manage to get by every year, Jay. Since 2000, though sometimes I wonder how. The £6k overheads we are stuck with. Though, we have discussed getting rid of the stage which would save £1200, but make the performers less visible. Last year, tight on funds we didn't pay any of the stage performers, which meant some local bands (professional and semi professional) we couldn't have. The £1300 for children's play would mean extra play and art for children and young people, beyond Make-Do-Play. We haven't had a climbing wall for quite a few years. They are expensive as they come on the back of a lorry, are as high as a house, and need two operatives present all day. We hire everything, as we have no storage space, which is why we welcome the Resource library which currently has just gazebos, but would like to get tables and chairs and other items. The money we are applying for you could regard as being for two years, as our bank account would be intact, and so we'd be in a healthy place for the start of 2027. But with the pot being cut from £200k to £100k, few groups will get anything.
Profile of Jay Smith
Posted by:Jay Smith
9 months ago
@Derek Smith Thank you for responding, I do appreciate it. That all makes sense. I wish you the best of luck and yes I will be voting for you this year.