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There are just days left to save Jersey's annual Air Display from cancellation, with organisers urgently calling for £50,000.
An online appeal has raised £8,520 so far, and the event has also received a government grant - but organisers say this is not enough, having been reduced in recent years.
The event is scheduled to take place on 12 September, with the French Air Force's Équipe de Voltige de l'Armée de l'Air and the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team among the aircraft confirmed to be booked.
Organiser and former politician Mike Higgins said the grant had been "progressively reduced" in recent years:
In 2014, the Air Display received a £110,000 grant
In 2017, the grant was £90,000
In 2018, the grant was £75,000
In 2019, the grant was £45,000
The event was cancelled in 2020
In 2021, the grant was £65,000
In 2022, the grant was £60,000
In 2023, the grant was £60,000
And in 2024, they received £40,000 from government.
Mr Higgins said he was "particularly grateful" to those who had already donated to the fundraiser.
"How optimistic am I? I don’t know is the honest answer," he commented.
"I know that many people love and look forward to the Air Display every year and I hope they will come forward to help ensure that we can go ahead with the event. There is a great deal of goodwill in the island for the Air Display."
Pictured: Air Display organiser Mike Higgins.
He added that his team would be speaking to corporate sponsors right up until the last minute on Friday. But, he has warned, the need to make final commitments mean that the event will be cancelled if they do not hit their fundraising target by Friday.
If the 2024 event is cancelled, funds are to go towards the 2025 display. If the Air Display is cancelled permanently, the funds are to go to the charity Helping Wings Jersey.
The event has a varying budget and has had to cancel aircraft when money hasn't stretched far enough, Mr Higgins said.
He explained: "If the Air Display is to continue in the future, we need to secure long-term funding rather than to be hand-to-mouth every year.
"We currently start with no money at the beginning of the year and end with no money. It is all ploughed into the display.
"We have never been in the position to have a reserve and cannot afford to operate at a loss as no-one will bail us out.
"This is why the number of aircraft and content of the air display varies each year – we have had to cancel aircraft if we do not have the money for them to take part."
Mr Higgins added that the event was a draw for Jersey.
He said: "My fundraising team and I are still talking to corporate sponsors and reaching out to others to help us and we will continue to do so until the last minute on Friday. What people fail to recognize is that the air display generates in excess of a million pounds a year into the local economy as well as contributing to the wellness of the people of Jersey by providing an event that all can watch for free irrespective of income.
"If all the companies who benefitted directly or indirectly from the air display came forward with a donation or if all those who watched last year’s air display last year can afford to donated £5.00 we would have no problem whatsoever."
You can donate to the Air Display on SportsGiving.
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