V Festival’s demise to hit water charity

Village Water raised between £10,000 to £15,000 a year by providing a trolley service to festival-goers.

But the Shrewsbury-based charity will have to go without the additional funds this year, meaning that it will be ‘less able to extend’ its work.

It follows an announcement this week over the festival’s future, which states it would not take place at Weston Park this year.

After rebranding to RiZE festival, the event will only take place this year at Weston Park’s sister V Festival site, Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex.

Parish councils around the Weston Park estate have already expressed their disappointment, having also received an annual grant every year.

And today, founder and trustee of Village Water, David Dixon, said the charity, which supplied trolleys for £10 an hour at the festival, would feel the impact of the festival organiser’s decision.

The charity has provided water pumps, costing £4,000 to install, to 1,000 villages in Zambia and Mozambique.

Mr Dixon, who lives in Tong near to Weston Park, said: “The festival offered little or no disruptions to communities, and provided groups like ourselves with an opportunity to raise money.

“So yes, we are disappointed, mainly because it raised a large amount each year for our work in Africa.

“It means we are now less able to extend the work with do in Africa.”

Mr Dixon set up Village Water in 2003. As well as digging water pumps, it also funds flood resistant latrines in schools and promotes hygiene and sanitation through activities.

The charity raised more than £500,000 to support its work in 2016.

Mr Dixon said: “The problem we have out in Zambia is the Government money dries up and it is down to us to step in.”

Roseclaim, organisers of RiZE, have not disclosed why Hylands Park has been chosen instead of Weston Park.

For further details on Village Water, go to villagewater.org/donate or follow the charity on Twitter @VillageWater.