Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Author: susan

  • Community Members and Groups pay tribute to Chief Constable as he bids farewell to Kent Police

    Community Members and Groups pay tribute to Chief Constable as he bids farewell to Kent Police

    A delegation of community representatives visited Kent Police Headquarters on Monday 12th September to bid farewell to Chief Constable Alan Pughsley QPM as he steps down from the role this month.

    The visit was arranged by Kent Equality Cohesion Council and saw members from the Kent Senior Citizens Association, Saheli Group, Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association, Ashford Muslim Association and the North Kent Caribbean Network attend to personally thank the Chief for his long and prolific service to the County of Kent as well as his long standing relationship to the diverse communities that reside within it.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council said, “I am really pleased that we were all able to come together as a delegation of diverse community representatives and have the opportunity to thank Mr Pughsley in person, for his dedication, commitment and hard work over the many years that he has served as Chief Constable. His service has been exemplary, and an inspiration for those that follow after him. I am personally grateful to the Chief for the time and effort he has put in with us an organisation, working to build stronger community ties, amplifying the values that bring us together. Mr Pugsley has always been incredibly supportive and vocal about the work we do here in Kent and his absence will be felt. However, we wish him all the best in his new role and are confident in the legacy he leaves behind at Kent Police.”

  • Maidstone Community Mela celebrates Her Majesty The Queen

    Maidstone Community Mela celebrates Her Majesty The Queen

    After much discussion and advice from both local and national partners the Maidstone Community Mela took place on Sunday September 11th. The Community Mela became a celebration of Queen Elizabeth ll life, and contribution to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.

    The Community Mela started with the National Anthem performed by Phase 5 Streel Band and then a minute of silence which was impeccably observed.

    Throughout the day images of the Queen’s life were shown on a big screen along with tributes from Civic Leaders from the borough. The Proclamation from Jubilee Square of the new monarch King Charles lll was also screened live and each stall had images of Her Majesty displayed as a sign of respect.

    There was a programme of entertainment both on and off stage reflecting the best of British and Commonwealth arts and culture, with the majority of the acts from Maidstone and other areas of Kent.

    The Chief Guest was Deputy Lieutenant Bill Cockcroft who was representing the Lord Lieutenant the Monarch’s personal representative in the County of Kent. He spoke about Her Majesty’s life of service to the nation and the Commonwealth.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented: “. We were very mindful of the mood of intense sadness which is being felt across the nation and the world. In the end after much discussion with community partners and funders I am pleased that we did carry on with the Mela, it allowed the local community to come together and pay their respects and celebrate the life of Queen Elizabeth ll.

    The Mela was produced by a group of community partners led by Maidstone Cultural Group, Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council and was supported by Arts Council England and Maidstone Borough Council.

  • Gravesham Pride celebrations

    Gravesham Pride celebrations

    Third Pride Celebrations a huge success

    After months of hard work the Gravesham Pride celebrations took place on Saturday August 13th and were the biggest in the borough to date.

    The celebrations were produced by the volunteers that make up the Gravesham Pride Committee working in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus.

    The event was officially began with the raising of the Pride Flags on Community Square where dignitaries such as Dr Vasudaven DL, the Deputy Lieutenant of Kent the Deputy Mayor of Gravesham Cllr John Caller and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox welcomed those in attendance and spoke about the importance of celebrating Pride.

    They were joined by Helanna Bowler-Irvine the Chair of Gravesham Pride, Gurvinder Sandher MBE from KECC and Cllr Steve Thompson. The key message was about unity, hope, overcoming barriers and bringing the diverse communities of Gravesham together.

    The first ever Gravesham Pride March involving around 300 participants then took place, starting from Community Square and via the High Street and Crooked Lane ending up at the Fort Gardens. The march was clapped through the route and welcomed as it went through the town centre.

    The celebrations then continued with a programme of entertainment in Fort Gardens featuring a There was also a live broadcast by GlitterBeam Radio a global LGBTQ+ radio station. Also in attendance were partners such as Kent Police and Kent Adult Education.

    The event was supported by a range of funders including The National Lottery Community Fund and Gravesham Borough Council as well as income from stalls and donations made by members of the public.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE, Artistic Director of KECC commented, “I am incredibly proud that we were able to help deliver the second Gravesham Pride event, a colourful and inclusive event that celebrates the distinct uniqueness of people and the way these differences, if championed, can ultimately bring us all together. This is the 3rd year of Gravesham Pride and it will only get bigger and better. We are very grateful to Gravesham Pride Committee and Gravesham Borough Council for their partnership and team work. We look forward to putting on future Pride events with a view to make these celebrations an annual affair.”

  • Thousands attend Kabaddi Cup in Gravesend

    Thousands attend Kabaddi Cup in Gravesend

    Sun, Samosa’s and sport were the order of the day as the first Kabaddi Cup since 2017 took place in Gravesham. Over 2500 people attended the tournament and came from around England. The sports festival which took place on the playing grounds of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara was very well received and was arranged by the Gravesend Kabaddi Club, the Gurdwara and community partners including Kent Equality Cohesion Council.

    Food and drink were also on offer throughout the day providing refreshments to all. 8 teams took part from around England including Coventry, Birmingham, Leicester, Hayes, Reading and eventual winners Slough. The Gravesend and Barking Team was eliminated early but this did not dampen the enthusiasm of the local crowd who cheered on the competitors eagerly.

    Satnam Singh, Manager of the Gravesend Kabaddi Club commented, “I am so pleased with how well the tournament was received and the enthusiasm shown on the day. Here at the club we are passionate about Kabaddi and want to make sure that the sport is accessible to everyone. We also want to give young people a chance to know the game and engage with it. Kabaddi is a physical game that requires a lot of strength and stamina but it also requires focus. These are vital skills that we encourage all to learn, especially the youth. So I am glad that if anything, we were able to showcase the many positive qualities of the game.”

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “It was a pleasure to be involved in organising this year’s Kabaddi Cup Tournament in Gravesend. The last tournament took place 6 years ago and a great deal has happened since then including the pandemic. However we believe that sporting events like these, especially ones that have cultural significance for many, are important and necessary to deliver. Kabaddi is a unique sport hailing from the Indian Sub-Continent and has a strong following nationally. We are really pleased that the event went well and all who attended enjoyed. We look forward to working with the Gravesend Kabaddi Club, the Gurdwara and community partners again, to continue delivering culturally diverse sports events.”

  • Tunbridge Wells Mela 2022 a Huge Success

    Tunbridge Wells Mela 2022 a Huge Success

    The 16th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival took place in Calverley Grounds on Sunday 24th July 2022 and saw thousands turn out to support. The Mela was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Arts Council England and Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

    Festival goers were able to enjoy a rich and culturally diverse artistic programme both on and off stage. Highlights included the Paul Dunton Orchestra and Sahrudaya West Kent Keralites who wooed everyone with their high energy performances, the ever popular Kings of Dhol, and Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band amongst many others.

    Other highlights included D-Bollywood, Bloco Fogo and Circus Raj. The event was climaxed with the One Love Orchestra who had everyone up and dancing to their renditions of classics by the king of reggae himself, Bob Marley. Deputy Lieutenant Georgie Warner was the Chief Guest.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am really proud of what we were able to achieve. The Tunbridge Wells Mela is a shining beacon of how music, food and dance can bring communities together and celebrate shared values. The event’s success is underpinned by the many loyal festival attendees who turn out every year to support and enjoy the rich culturally diverse offering that the Mela provides. I would like to thank everyone who worked with us to deliver the Mela and everyone who came and attended.”

  • The Sun shines on the Gravesend Eid Community Mela

    The Sun shines on the Gravesend Eid Community Mela

    Over 1000 people attended the Gravesend Eid Community Mela which took place at the Fort Gardens on Sunday June 12th.

    The community celebrations which were produced by Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association, Shah Jalal Mosque and Cohesion Plus working with Kent Equality Cohesion Council featured an array of activity.

    Highlights included a range of food stalls with food from the Indian Sub-continent, charity cakes stalls, henna, face painting, a fun fair and information stands from partners including Rethink Sahayak, Kent Police, Citizens Advice and Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

    There was a programme of stage entertainment which featured Raag Qawwali Group, the Kings of Dhol, Lethal Soundz and a Kurdish Cultural Dance performance.

    Guests who attended and spoke at the event included Dr Vasudaven the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Scollard and Civic Mayor of Lewisham Cllr Anwar. They were joined by District Commander for Gravesham and Dartford Chief Inspector Lay from Kent Police and Cllr Mochrie-Cox the Cabinet Member for Communities at Gravesham Borough Council.

    Bilal Farooq, the Chairman of the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association commented, “We are really proud of what we were able to achieve. The sun really did shine on us and I have been over whelmed with the positive feedback I have received. The whole purpose of the celebrations were to bring the communities together regardless of faith and background and celebrate the auspicious occasion of Eid which is very important to the Muslim community. This is the largest Eid celebrations we have planned to date and we are grateful to all of our partners and volunteers who made this possible.”

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “We have a long and proud history of working in partnership with the Gravesham and Dartford Muslim Association going back over 2 decades. This was our most ambitious event to date and I am so pleased that all the hard work everyone put in has paid off. Celebrations like this provide opportunities for everyone to come together and have positive shared experiences and celebrate all that binds us together as members of the local community.”

    The event was part funded by EK360 Listening Project, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Cohesion Plus, Gravesham Borough Council Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association and Shah Jalal Mosque.

  • Passing of Great Local Champion Mr Mohammed Aslam

    Passing of Great Local Champion Mr Mohammed Aslam

    Local community champion Mr Mohammed Aslam sadly passed away on Sunday 5th June 2022 after long bout of ill health. He was one of the founders of the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association and the Kent Muslim Welfare Association based in Medway.

    Mr Aslam was recognised not just in Kent but around the country for his dedication and service to diverse communities spanning over 50 years. He was widely respected and recognised for his selfless servitude to the community and an instrumental figure not only establishing the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association but also supporting the opening of the newly acquired burial space for members of the Muslim community in Thames View Crematorium and Cemetery.

    Having arrived in this country from Lahore in Pakistan in the April of 1968, he settled in Gravesend. Like many immigrants of that era, he initially worked in construction and then in the paper mills locally. Alongside this, Mr Aslam working with others members in the Muslim community set about establishing a base for the fledgling Muslim population in the borough. From these small seeds emerged the Gravesend and Dartford Muslim Association. He was one of the driving forces behind the Islamic classes which started in the borough and then the development of the current Mosque in Albion Terrace.

    Parallel to this Mr Aslam was a key figure in promoting positive community relations locally and fostered long standing partnerships with the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara and multiple local Churches, working on promoting interfaith activity. This was something that was very close to his heart as most recently Mr Aslam worked with local faith groups to fundraise for oxy-meters and oxygen concentrators to be sent to India in the midst of its worst wave of Covid 19 infection in May 2021.

    In addition to his interfaith work, Mr Aslam was always on hand to provide advice and support to key local community partners including Kent Police over many years.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “During the course of my career I have been incredibly fortunate to work with real community champion and heroes. Mr Aslam was one such champion, who not only worked tirelessly and diligently throughout his time serving the community, but also did it humbly and utterly selflessly. He genuinely worked towards to the betterment of the community he served without any guise or ulterior agenda, never once asking for recognition or award. A pillar of the community in the truest sense, Mr Aslam was a warm and welcoming figure, qualities that reflected in the way he worked together with other communities, cultivating unity and religious tolerance. Mr Aslam will be greatly missed and his absence will be keenly felt locally. I for one pay tribute to the vital work he did within the heart of the community and for the outstanding individual he was.”

  • Gurvinder Sandher

    Gurvinder Sandher

    Gurvinder Sandher, Artistic Director of the Cohesion Plus and CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council has been received recognition of his contribution towards the arts and communities of Kent in the form of an MBE. Mr Sandher was awarded the prestigious award as part of Her Majesty the Queens 2022 honours selection amidst the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council which was born from the North West Kent Race Equality Office in 1999 has been conducting vital work across serving under-represented communities, working to reduce inequality, eliminate discrimination and to promote positive community relations between diverse communities. Mr Sandher has always stressed that the community lay at the heart of the work that the charity delivers, taking care to recognise the many diverse and nuanced needs each demographic has, championing difference and celebrating unity in the same vein.

    In 2008 Cohesion Plus was created from the work that Kent Equality Cohesion Council was doing, using culturally diverse art forms to complement KECC’s mission of celebrating differences and using these differences to forge connections amongst disparate communities. Cohesion Plus’s delivers around 12 outdoor events annually, providing platforms for under-represented art forms, genres and artists. The organisation’s work is delivered across the length and breadth of Kent, with the diverse communities at the heart of every outdoor event and celebration. In 2018 Cohesion Plus won National Portfolio Organisation status as part of Arts Council England investment, ensuring that it was able to deliver its work consecutively for a four year funded period.

    Mr Sandher has an extensive background in the arts himself and is a renowned Bhangra dancer having performed all over the world since 1985 and still performs to this day. He is the co-founder of Four by Four Bhangra, one of the leading and respected exponents of Bhangra outside of India. Mr Sandher is passionate about diversity and inclusion within the arts sector and champions increased visibility for BAME artists and organisations.

    Mr Sandher commented, “This is an achievement beyond my wildest expectations and to say I am humbled is truly an understatement. I cannot accept this honour without paying tribute to the local diverse communities who I have had the privilege of working with for over two decades now. Having worked in the heart of local diverse communities for over 20 years now, I have been incredibly lucky to work with and learn from a great number of local champions and heroes. This honour is as much theirs as it is mine.

    As an artist and deliverer of culturally diverse events, my dream has always been to give diverse art forms and artists a much needed platform and to be awarded an MBE for contributions towards the arts and communities is a sentiment I can’t quite quantify just yet. All I can do is express my sincere heartfelt gratitude to each and every individual who has helped, supported and mentored me to this position. I am also so grateful for the fact that my parents will be able to see me receive this honour. They came to the UK from India in the 1960’s and had to face countless struggles and barriers in order to make a life for their family. The expression that ‘it takes a village’ rings true now and I genuinely look forward to continuing my journey in promoting community cohesion through the arts over the coming years.”

  • Annual in person Saint George’s Day celebrations return!

    Annual in person Saint George’s Day celebrations return!

    For the first time since 2019 large scale in person celebrations took place in Gravesham and Dartford to celebrate Saint George’s Day.

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council were delighted to work in partnership with Cohesion Plus, Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council to produce these successful community events which also featured 18 local schools from across the 2 boroughs, with 900 children taking part in creative arts workshops in the buildup. The workshops were run by our artistic partners Same Sky.

    The aim of the celebrations was to celebrate the patron Saint of England and to use it as an opportunity to bring the communities of Gravesham and Dartford together. Entertainment included traditional and contemporary brass bands, fusion Dhol drummers, folk musicians, DJ, balloon modeler, Saint George himself and a large scale dragon.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “I am so pleased that we are able to produce in person Saint George’s Day celebrations again in Gravesham and Dartford. After the challenging period we have just been through, it is so wonderful that we are able to bring the communities of Gravesham and Dartford together through the Saint George’s Day celebrations. I am always humbled by the support we received for these events from local schools, artists, residents and artists and this year was no exception.”

  • Mental Health Awareness North Kent Project Report

    Mental Health Awareness North Kent Project Report

    KECC (Kent Equality Cohesion Council) has published a report around the impact on mental health in diverse young people since the onset of the pandemic. Working with local schools, youth groups and grass root organisations, the report was compiled with the use of surveys which were circulated amongst local young people and roundtable discussions which looked into the issues affecting young people over the various lockdowns and subsequently in a post lockdown society.

    The research was funded through the Live Well Fund for Kent and Medway and was delivered in partnership with Rethink Sahayak, Cohesion Plus and North Kent Caribbean Network.

    Key themes that emerged included the negative impact that the pandemic had on young people, many felt really anxious and some still feel uncomfortable in social situations. There was also still a lack of awareness of services and support available locally. Recommendations included the need for more targeted interventions with young people in non-educational settings including sports clubs and arts settings. It was also felt that more could be done to highlight the link between physical activity and mental health wellbeing.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of the KECC commented, “In a society which has been so impacted by the pandemic, we were keen to understand the effect locally. The young people who participated in the research really opened up about the challenges, some of them knew friends and family members who had been severely impacted with some participants knowing friends who had sadly taken their own lives. We will be sharing the report and its findings widely and hope it can contribute to the debate around mental health and well-being as we try to get back to pre-pandemic normality.