Hull Folk & Maritime Festival is now overseen by a charity 'Folk in Hull' along with other weekly events. For the last 5 years we have managed to get a substantial grant from the Council but this is not guaranteed and we normally get this only a couple of months before the July festival, not ideal for using to book guests. We are reasonably successful with grants from national bodies and local businesses and that seems to be the way forward as we are largely a free festival. British Waterways Marinas Ltd. sponsor our historic vessels in the Marina and some of these are used as stages for smaller concerts. We make great use of local artists cutting down on travel and accommodation.

As for younger people getting involved we are doing very well on this score with a deliberate policy of younger volunteers shadowing our older experienced volunteers, such that our performers and volunteers cover a wide age span.