ORGANISERS of the Elder Stubbs Festival, which raises money for Oxfordshire charities, have warned it may not go ahead next year due to a cut in a grant from Oxford City Council.

The Restore mental health charity, in Manzil Way, East Oxford, has just raised enough money to put on this year’s event following a £1,600 cut to funding.

The chief executive of Restore, Benedict Leigh, said next year’s festival may not go ahead after the charity only managed to raise enough money this year by the “skin of our teeth”.

The 43-year-old from Littlemore said: “Last year we broke even but this year is looking very unlikely.

“I think it’s difficult times for the council and they said they have other priorities.

“The festival is important, because it raises awareness of mental health and other charities and is a chance for people to meet each other.”

Thousands of people attend the event held at the Elder Stubbs Allotment site, opposite Florence Park, every year, which provides a platform for about 20 local community groups and charities to campaign and raise money for their causes.

Dozens of live bands will play at the 22nd festival and the event will also feature workshops, food and art and craft stalls.

The Elder Stubbs Festival costs about £9,000 to run. It is funded by a combination of donations and a grant from Oxford City Council, which was worth £2,500 last year. But the council has reduced the grant to £900 this year.

A city council said: “The annual open bidding grant programme is a competitive process. “Every year, Oxford City Council receives many more requests than it can fund.

“Organisations and groups can apply but, as this is discretionary ‘one-off’ funding, there is no guarantee of further funding.

“The £900 awarded to Restore for the Elder Stubbs Festival was awarded based on the information they provided.”

Restore has been receiving a grant from the council for about 15 years.

Recovery worker Katie Rowell, 23, from Oxford, said: “It’s a real shame. The Elder Stubbs Festival is a great community social event.

“We’re really happy that we’ve made enough money to put it on this year but we’re going to have to think very carefully about next year.”

If next year’s event goes ahead the charity may have to reduce its size by as much as half if funding remains at the current level.

Organisers hope to make about £2,000 in profit at this year’s festival, which will be put back into the pot to help for next year’s event. But the charity says that will not be enough to cover all the expenses.

This year’s festival takes place at the Elder Stubbs Allotments on Saturday, August 17, from noon until 6pm.