Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Cllr Jeremy Kite MBE

  • Ebbsfleet Magical Winter Festival

    Ebbsfleet Magical Winter Festival

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council Delighted to Partner on Ebbsfleet Magical Winter Festival

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council was delighted to be a partner in the Ebbsfleet Magical Winter Festival, which took place at Platinum Jubilee Park on Friday 6th February. Despite challenging weather conditions, over a thousand people attended the event, coming together to celebrate an evening of light, creativity, and community spirit in the heart of Ebbsfleet.

    The free community festival transformed the park into a breath-taking winter wonderland, with a dazzling array of magical light installations creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for visitors of all ages. A highlight of the evening was the first-ever lantern parade, led by pupils from five local schools, who proudly showcased lanterns they had created themselves alongside designs by Same Sky. The illuminated procession symbolised shared creativity, unity, and hope during the darker winter months.

    Festival-goers also enjoyed a vibrant programme of street and musical performances as well as a life size, fully interactive Polar Bear which added to the sense of wonder and excitement throughout the evening.

    The festival was supported by Kent Equality Cohesion Council and organised by Cohesion Plus and Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, with support from Arts Council England, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Same Sky, and KKB Group. Kent Equality Cohesion Council was proud to support the event as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting inclusion, equality, and cohesion through community-led cultural activity.

    The festival was also attended by key civic partners, including the Mayor of Dartford, Cllr Whappshot; the Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Jeremy Kite MBE; and the new Chair of Ebbsfleet Development Corporation, Geoff Prout CB. Their presence underlined the importance of partnership working and shared commitment to strengthening communities across the borough.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented

    “The Ebbsfleet Magical Winter Festival stood as a powerful example of how arts and culture can bring people together, even in challenging conditions, creating moments of joy, connection, and shared pride for the whole community.”

  • Dartford Festival of Light brings community together

    Dartford Festival of Light brings community together

    Dartford Festival of Light brings community together

    The Dartford Festival of Light, held on Friday 21 November, welcomed record numbers of local residents who turned out to celebrate despite the cold weather. A much-loved highlight in the town’s cultural calendar, the festival once again delivered an uplifting evening of colour, creativity, and community spirit.

    The Festival featured 14 local schools. In the weeks leading up to the event, pupils worked closely with Same Sky to design and create unique lanterns around the inspiring themes of unity, solidarity, and community. The lanterns illuminated Dartford Town Centre as families, friends, and neighbours walked together in celebration. They were joined in the parade by a number of Kent based acts who proved to be popular with the audience DDFK Brass Band, Bloco Fogo Samba, Kings of Dhol, and dynamic lit up Stilt Walkers.

    The parade climaxed in Central Park where a spectacular firework display took place following short speeches by the Leader of Dartford Borough Council Jeremy Kite MBE, Deputy Lieutenant of Kent Kelvin Holford, Deputy Mayor of Dartford Avtar Sandhu MBE and Jim Dixon MP.

    The Festival was delivered in partnership with Cohesion Plus and Dartford Borough Council and was supported by Arts Council England, KKB Group, and Uden Funeral Services.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “It is vital that events like the Festival of Light continue to take place as a means of bringing the diverse residents of Dartford together to celebrate what unities us a community and to celebrate our shared values. I am proud of what we have achieved working in partnership and am really grateful to the local schools for their ongoing support and participation in our work.”

  • South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations

    South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations

    South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations

    KECC in partnership with Cohesion Plus once again delivered South Asian Heritage Month Celebrations taking place across Dartford and Gravesend.

    Dartford South Asian Heritage Month on Tuesday 22nd July in the Orchard West Theatre and saw the showcasing of South Asian art forms and the recognition of celebrated local community champions. Around 150 local residents attended the celebrations including civic guests Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council and Mayor of Dartford Cllr Peter Whapshot as well as Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL who also represented the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.

    The evening saw the inaugural presentation of the Dev Sharma Community Award. The award was presented to Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Bina Pandaya Ghimire, President of the Nepalese Community Group and Gurdial Singh Rai, President of Dartford Guru Hargobind Singh Gurdwara. All recipients of the award have worked long and hard in their respective communities and displayed exceptional leadership. There was also a programme of artistic performances by local artists showcasing their respective art forms which originated from the South and North of India as well as Bangladesh.

    In addition, the Gravesend South Asian Heritage Month celebrations were marked at the Studio, Woodville on Wednesday 23rd July. As part of the evening, attendees were able to watch the premiere of three new films which once again celebrated the positive contribution made by local residents of South Asian descent.

    Dignitaries in attendance included the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Jenny Wallace, Joanne Holmes DL and Anne Millington DL.

    The first film covered the journey of the local Eid Community Mela which begun in 2023 and was organised working in partnership with local community figures. The celebrations are some of the largest in Kent and one that brings Muslims and non-Muslims alike together to enjoy a full programme of on stage, culturally diverse performances from artists of Indian, Pakistani, Syrian and Bangladeshi descent. Co organisers Bilal Farooq CEO of Kent Muslim Hands and Khawar Khurshit of Gravesham Skills Centre were awarded a special community award to mark their hard work and efforts for the event, working in partnership with Cohesion Plus.

    The second film told the story of the largest Kabbadi Tournament held in the South East and organised by local Kabbadi Club, a club run by volunteers for well over 20 years. The film showcased the immense impact the sport has on both British born players as well as those from India and Pakistan who are invited to play internationally on large scale platforms annually. The Kabbadi Club were also recipients of the special community award, marking their vast contribution towards sports and culture.

    The third and final film showcased the practice of ‘Seva’ (selfless service) and the long held tradition across three generations of the Birring family. The film captured the individual stories of the elder and younger members of the family, highlighting the differences in lifestyles and also the connecting practice of seva with the Gravesend Guru Nanak Dabar Gurdwara serving at the backdrop. The family also received a special community award for their prolific efforts and service to the local community.

    In addition there was a special World War 2 exhibition commemorating the contributions made by the Commonwealth and specifically soldiers of South Asian descent. The families of those soldiers were also in attendance and they had the opportunity to tell their stories.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of KECC commented,

    “I am so incredibly proud of what we were able to produce and deliver as part of this year’s South Asian Heritage Month celebrating local heroes, stories and art forms. I feel it is vital to celebrate this month as it is South Asian history is British history. Our histories are so intrinsically intertwined that it would be remiss of us not to highlight and showcase the myriad of ways that the Asian subcontinent has contributed to the fabric of British society. We are currently living in very divisive times so I believe now more so than ever, we have a responsibility to celebrate Britain in its modern, diverse context. I feel we achieved this with these wonderful events and the success is clearly evident in the sheer number of people who came out to support them.”

  • Dartford Black History Month Celebrations 2024

    Dartford Black History Month Celebrations 2024

    Dartford Black History Month Celebrations 2024

    Cohesion Plus and Kent Equality Cohesion Council working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council produced a community celebration for Black History Month on Wednesday 2nd October. The event was supported by Arts Council England and took place at the Orchard West Theatre.

    The event was part of a month long programme celebrating the achievements and accomplishments of the Black diaspora in the UK with this year’s theme “Reclaiming Narrative.” Civic guests included Cllr Jeremy Kite, Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Mayor of Dartford Cllr Andy Lloyd, Jim Dickson MP along with Gurvinder Sandher Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

    The evening featured a range of guest speakers including Akua Agyepong, Director of Adult Social Care at KCC and Naomi Benjamin, founder of Medway based CIC The Sewin Project. The speakers spoke about their individual journeys and how being Black and British shaped their identifies and life paths.

    There was also a screening of the a Cohesion Plus produced film detailing the story of local resident and baker Dela Oresanwo who despite great trials and tribulations, runs a successful home baking business bringing joy to her customers.

    Uzambezi, a Zimbabwean dance and music troupe performed traditional songs and choreography throughout the evening, wowing guests with their interactive numbers.

    Local micro businesses were also showcased on the night, ranging from natural beauty products, soaps and jewellery as well as Afro-Caribbean groceries, brands and ingredients. Guests were able to also try Afro-Caribbean cuisine provided by Jerk on the Hill as well as delicious home backed desserts provided by Dela Homebakes.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am proud of what we were able to achieve working with Dartford Borough Council. Our work in the borough celebrates its diversity and the shared history of residents regardless of background 12 months of the year, during Black History Month we just amp up this work as we believe strongly that Black History is British History and it needs to be celebrated across the year not just in October.”

  • Black History Month Event Celebrating Local Communities and Businesses in Ebbsfleet

    Black History Month Event Celebrating Local Communities and Businesses in Ebbsfleet

    Black History Month Event Celebrating Local Communities and Businesses in Ebbsfleet

    A special community event took place at the Castle Hill Community Centre in Ebbsfleet on October 12th as part of the Dartford wide programme for Black History Month produced by Cohesion Plus, Dartford Borough Council and Kent Equality Cohesion Council.

    The theme of the event was to showcase local Black Business owned by women, reflecting the national theme of Black History Month 2023 of Celebrating our Sisters.

    The event was opened by Gurvinder Sandher from KECC and Elliese Bramble from Cohesion Plus. The two welcomed everyone and spoke about the importance of these events as well as reflecting on the National Black History Month theme, Celebrating Our Sisters.

    They were followed by the Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite MBE who the importance of Black History Month and the need to celebrate the positive contribution made by communities with links to the Caribbean and Africa over many years to the UK.

    The key note speaker Alexandra Bode-Tunji Chief Strategy and Transformation officer from the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, who spoke about the positive contribution made by Doctors and Nurses with links to the Caribbean and Africa to the NHS, which is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. She also spoke about the health inequalities that exist in the area and her desire to forge a closer working relationship between the NHS Trust and the local community.

    A number of local residents then shared information on some of their respective businesses and activities that they run in the areas. These included Yoshina Bhopal who delivers Bollywood inspired fitness sessions, Dela Oresanwo and Rebecca Ajwole who both set up micro catering businesses during lockdown and were supplying the food for the evening.

    Other business highlighted at the event included Eden Health who showcased their work around healthy living and the Afro-Caribbean Grocery which delivers traditional foods to the local community. There was also a demonstration from Tanya at TMG Business who got everyone up and working hard with a special boxercise class.

    The session finished with a talk by Nick Marden DL about the work of Charity Mentors Kent and Medway which provides free mentoring for charity Leaders across the county.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, CEO commented “We are grateful for the support we received for this community celebration in Ebbsfleet. I was really pleased that we were able to showcase a number of local businesses and celebrate the positive contribution made by those from African and Caribbean heritage to the local economy and community.”

  • Festival Lights Up Dartford!

    Festival Lights Up Dartford!

    The Dartford Festival of Light returned to the borough for its 13th year on Friday 25th November. Organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus and Dartford Borough Council, the aim of the festival was to bring diverse communities together to celebrate the shared British values of respect, friendship, diversity and community. The festival was supported by Arts Council England and sponsored by local business KKB Group.

    In the build-up artistic partners Same Sky worked with 11 schools from across the borough to create lanterns which celebrated the values of the festival working with 600 children.

    The festival started with a series of street performances as the children lit up their lanterns on the High Street. The parade led by Kelvin Holford Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, the Mayor of Dartford Cllr Paul Cutler and the Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite MBE then started and went through the town centre before finishing in Central Park. The festival climaxed with a spectacular fireworks display which was greatly enjoyed by the audience.

    Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “This event’s biggest strength is the sheer number of people it brings together from across the borough, young and old, urban and rural, different faiths and backgrounds but all united as residents of Dartford. We are grateful to all of our partners for all their ongoing support including Dartford Borough Council and our event sponsors KKB, it is nice to see local businesses supporting community celebrations like this.”

  • First online Holocaust Memorial Day event herald a great success

    First online Holocaust Memorial Day event herald a great success

    First online Holocaust Memorial Day event herald a great success

    Civic, community and faith partners came together to attend an online event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) on Wednesday January 27th. The event was organised by the Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus in partnership with Dartford Borough Council.

    The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day this year was “Be the light in the Darkness”, to encourage everyone to reflect on the depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities have resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’ before, during, and after genocide.

    The event featured online presentations by a range of speakers including Gerald Rose from the Catford and Bromley Synagogue, who spoke about the importance of teaching young people the history of the Holocaust. He was followed by Rabi Mati Kirschenbaum from Bromley Reform Synagogue, who talked about how the Holocaust impacted his family, whilst Fiyaz Mughal from Faith Matters emphasised the importance of inter-faith work, and told the story of the “Righteous Muslims” who saved Jewish lives during World War 2.

    Civic contributions were made by Cllr Jeremy Kite MBE the Leader of Dartford Borough Council, Cllr Roger Gough the Leader of Kent County Council, Deputy Chief Constable Tony Blaker, and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Frank Martin.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “It is so imperative that we commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and learn the lessons of history. The whole ethos of our work and our partnership with Dartford Borough Council and local community and faith organisations is for us to all come together and celebrate all that binds us rather than what divides us. As only by standing together can we tackle insidious agendas and viewpoints that seek to de-stabilise our communities.

    Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite MBE said, “Holocaust Memorial Day is a powerful reminder of how quickly civilisation can descend into chaos and hatred. Sadly this danger is no less real today than in the past, and it is vital that we unite and stand together in building a more peaceful and tolerant world. The pandemic has shown the value of kindness, tolerance and compassion. It’s a lesson we must never forget.”

  • Tree planting ceremony to commemorate the founder of the Sikh faith

    Tree planting ceremony to commemorate the founder of the Sikh faith

    Tree Planting

    Dartford Borough Council in partnership with the Kent Equality Cohesion Council and the Dartford Guru Hargobind Gurdwara held a special tree planting ceremony in Central Park to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of the Sikh faith. The event took place on Saturday 8th February and the initiative was led by Cllr Avtar Sandhu MBE.

    The event was attended by various community and faith partners including Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite, Mayor of Dartford Cllr Roger Perfitt, KCC Chair Cllr Ann Allen, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council Gurvinder Sandher and Co-Ordinator Officer from the Indian High Commission Varinder Khera.

    The ceremony was a culmination of a week of activity in Dartford including the hosting a special exhibition on the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji which was displayed in the Peter Blake Gallery in Dartford Library. The exhibition was created by the Indian High Commission and has toured extensively around the UK and Europe.

    Gurvinder Sandher CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “This was a great initiative led by Cllr Sandhu and colleagues from Dartford Borough Council. We hope the tree will live to grow healthy and strong and serve as a symbol of the importance of communities in Dartford coming together to celebrate all that binds us. This is in line with the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who was a great advocate of breaking down religious and social barriers, something that is just as important now as it was then.”

    Cllr Avtar Sandhu MBE commented, “It was amazing to see so many people visit the exhibition over the last week and also attend the tree planting ceremony. We are very grateful for the support provided by the Indian High Commission in making this possible. The Sikh community in Dartford have a long and proud tradition and this exhibition underlines the values and ethos of the Sikh faith.”

  • Dartford Community comes together to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day

    Dartford Community comes together to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day

    Communities and faith groups from Dartford came together on Monday 27th January to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day which also marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 25th anniversary of the genocide in Bosnia. The event was organised by the Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and saw a number of people attend including Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite, The Worshipful Mayor of Dartford Cllr Roger Perfitt and Chairman of Kent County Council Cllr Ann Allen.

    Attendees heard from a range of speakers including Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality Cohesion Council who spoke about the importance of learning lessons from history. Gerald Rose from the Catford and Bromley Synagogue talked about the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day, ‘Standing Together’ and Dartford Council Leader Jeremy Kite spoke about his recent experience visiting Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The event concluded with an interfaith prayer which was led by Reverend Cantor David Rome.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am very grateful to everyone who made the time to attend this event. It is imperative that we continue to come together regardless of background, faith and ethnicity to remember the wrong doings of the past and learn from them. It is vital that the same mistakes do not repeat themselves. Tragically, some lessons have to be repeatedly learnt with genocides still occurring to this day, most recently in Darfur. The atrocities that took place in Auschwitz, Bosnia and Rwanda are no less horrific now than they were back then and we must never forget them. ”

    Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite said, “Holocaust Memorial Day is a powerful reminder of how quickly civilisation can descend into chaos and hatred. Sadly this prospect is no less real in 2020 than in the 1930s and 40s. We need to unite and demonstrate that we stand together in building a more peaceful and tolerant world.”

  • KECC Celebrate 10 Years of the Dartford Festival of Light

    KECC Celebrate 10 Years of the Dartford Festival of Light

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council was proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Dartford Festival of Light on Friday October 19th. Around 1500 people participated in the community festival which celebrates the values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality. Working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Cohesion Plus, the event proved to be as popular as ever and was a great showcase of the fantastic artwork which young people from 8 local schools had created working with Same Sky.

    The festival included performances on One Bell Corner by the Folk in Fusion Drumming Collective, Bloco Fogo Samba and the Stilt Batteristas. They were joined by Hilary the Triceratops who roamed the High Street interacting with members of the public. There was then a lantern parade featuring local schools which was led by the Mayor of Dartford Cllr David Mote, Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite MBE and Lak Heer from the Bostall Group who was the event sponsor. The parade went from the High Street via Suffolk Road into the Orchards Shopping Centre, left out towards Holy Trinity Church before climaxing in Central Park. The entrance in Central Park was especially lit up for the occasions with lanterns as was the area around the Band Stand.

    The celebrations climaxed with a presentation to local schools to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Festival and a colourful fireworks display.

    Gurvinder Sandher, the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “I am very proud of what we have achieved with the Dartford Festival of Light. The whole ethos of the event is to bring communities together and celebrate our shared values and is an event that the community of Dartford should be proud of. I hope that we can continue to evolve the festival and get more and more people involved.”