NEXT year’s Stroud Fringe Festival is set to be more varied with events for all the family.

A new all-female team has stepped in to take over the reins from the retiring fringe committee.

Clare Honeyfield, of Made in Stroud, and founder of Stroud farmers’ market, Jo Fry and Julie Howe, who are both artists and curators behind various events including Art Flea, and Lotte Lyster, landlady of the Prince Albert in Rodborough, bring a wealth of experience to the event.

Working with existing volunteers, they hope to make full use of creative talent in the community.

“The aim is to include a wider range of entertainment and more family-friendly activities,” said Clare, who organised Stroud Goodwill for three years until 2012.

“I want there to be more community participation and more activities for different age groups, like perhaps including a skate area.

“About 50 to 60 people have already approached me with new ideas and I would like to hear from anyone with a tipi who would be interested in having it at next year’s festival.

“I have also made contact with the chief executive at Stroud District Council to see how they can support the event.

“I would also like to see more support from officers at the council.”

The organisers are also launching a new way to fund the festival via a crowd funding scheme called Fringe Friends.

“Members of the community will be able to invest in the fringe to enable it to grow, and will receive fringe benefits in return,” said Clare.

“The development plan for the fringe aims to see it becoming renowned over a five to 10 year time scale as one of the country’s leading fringe festivals.”

The collective are now appealing for more involvement from the community.

This could range from carpenters who can donate a few hours of work to businesses wishing to take advantage of a new range of sponsorship packages.

To contact the team with ideas or suggestions email newideas@stroudfringe.co.uk.

For information on sponsorship email sponsor ship@stroudfringe.co.uk.

Last month it was announced that fringe chairman and treasurer Jeremy Collingwood, vice-chairman and company secretary Christina Snell, and steward leader Jack Wetson would all resign in January.