A Government funding boost of nearly £160,000 has been given to the loss-making Battle of Flowers parade this year.
A spokesperson for the Economic Development Minister confirmed Deputy Kirsten Morel had made the instruction to the chief ffficer of the Economy Department to approve a grant of £158,750 in support of the summer event.
This year, the Battle of Flowers will come in the form of a stripped-back celebration following funding issues and a management reshuffle.
Despite having its government grant almost doubled to £270,000 for last year’s celebration, it emerged that the 2024 Battle made a loss.
Leaked accounts revealed that the Battle of Flowers spent more than £745,000 on last year’s parade – including nearly £54,000 on security, £50,000 on marketing and £30,000 on Eurovision runner-up Sam Ryder.
Meanwhile, figures obtained by Express through a request made under the Freedom of Information Law show that the association spent £482,079 in 2023 – despite generating just £287,501 in income.
Even with £178,500 in Government grants, the 2023 event still recorded an overall loss of £80,773.
But Deputy Morel said he had “considered the balance of risks” in allowing another grant this year, even though Government “does not have an established relationship” with the new breakaway group.
“It is my judgement that a grant to the event organisers is necessary in order to enable a Battle of Flowers Parade in 2025,” he explained.
“It is the role of Ministers to consider the wider balance of risks and take into consideration the broader economic and social imperatives.”
Deputy Morel also said that the 123-year-old “iconic event” is an “important fixture” in Jersey’s calendar.
The strategy group Jersey Battle of Flowers (Parades) Ltd, chaired by Martyn Maguire, has turned a complete cancellation of the event into two smaller free parades on 8 and 9 August.
Even though there are just a few weeks to go until the streets of St Helier are full of colour once again, no official announcement of the parade route has been announced – although organisers have said it will be using smaller floats in central St Helier.
This may come as a surprise to some, as an announcement in La Cloche – a community magazine for St Saviour residents – detailed what appeared to be the 2025 parade route.
But following queries from Express, Mr Maguire confirmed that a “preliminary” map for the event was submitted to the magazine due to print deadlines.
Official plans are still awaiting approval by various government agencies, he said.
“We [the strategy group] came to the party late, we’ve been speaking to government since March and we’re still in the negotiation period,” said Mr Maguire.
He added that he “hoped” confirmation of the parade route will be revealed in the next couple of weeks.