Ilkley Carnival organisers have announced a target-busting £15,000 was raised for good causes from this year’s event.

With 10,500 visitors through the gates – 2,000 more than last year – and £3,000 more raised for good causes, primary beneficiary LS29 Support Group will receive a £7,500 donation.

The remaining funds will be distributed amongst charities and groups which supported on the Bank Holiday Monday event.

Ilkley Carnival chairman, Andrew Stacey, said the benefits of this year’s Ilkley Carnival have reached further than any previous year.

“We are not only delighted by this incredible sum of money raised for our local community but also by just how broad our reach is becoming,” he said.

Parade participants topped 1,500 with All Saints Primary School taking Best School in Parade and Best in Parade awards on the day.

The fundraising total is the highest in at least a decade.

“This year saw the busiest run up to the Ilkley Carnival with our social media push to find a free wii for Ilkley Stroke Club, the introduction of free fairground rides for LS29, more entries than ever in our Carnival Creative competition, crowds on Saturday and Sunday in the Hollygarth for our first ever Ilkley Rocks and a fantastic show of community support for our shop window dressing initiative which has now been extended across Yorkshire to support the Tour de France.”

Karen Goodman, of LS29, said the group’s members are staggered by the funds raised.
She said: “This is such an incredible amount of money for a group the size of ours. It means so much to so many people and will ensure we can continue to support existing and new families of children with special needs.”

She added: “We’ve had an influx of enquiries about our activities and even had new families join since we were selected as Ilkley Carnival’s primary beneficiary. While the money is an incredible boost, the experience of being a part of this fantastic local event has been worth its weight in gold, not only to us as a group but to the many families of children with special needs who now know we are here for them.”

Ben Rhydding Primary, Ashlands Primary and Westville School took joint runner-up Best in School award and Ben Rhydding Scout and Guide Group won Best Organisation/Charity in Parade.
llkley Pre-School was runner up in the Best Organisation / Charity in Parade category.
Visit ilkleycarnival.org to see pictures from the event.
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