Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Cohesion Plus

  • Online Black History Month Celebrations 2020

    Online Black History Month Celebrations 2020

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus working in partnership with the North Kent Caribbean Network delivered 3 online Black History Month celebrations across Kent covering the districts of Maidstone, Ashford, Folkestone, Margate, Gravesham and Dartford. The celebrations were part funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

    The first of the events took place across Maidstone and Ashford on 7th October and was delivered in partnership with Ashford BME Association, Black Heritage and local rapper and community activist Fennie. The second event took place on the following week on 14th October across Folkestone and Margate in partnership with Black History Month Folkestone, local artists Randolph Matthews, Lee Desai and Rev Anita McKenzie. The third and final event took place across Gravesham and Dartford on the 21st October and was delivered in partnership with the North Kent Caribbean Network.

    Special messages in support of the celebrations were given across the three events by key partners including the Chief Constable of Kent Police Alan Pughsley and Leader of Kent County Council Cllr Roger Gough amongst others.

    During the course of the events, three individual RoundTable discussions were also recorded and aired which covered topics such as the impact of Covid-19 on local communities, the significance of Black Lives Matters in Kent and the many achievements of the diverse communities across the county.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am really proud of what we have been able to achieve working in partnership with local community partners across Kent. At a time when the quest for social justice is at the forefront of many people’s minds we felt it was important to not only celebrate Black History Month but also recognise the simple fact that Black History is British History. Only by working together can we unite communities, promote cohesion, tackle extremism and fight social injustices.”

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  • Windrush Community Celebrations takes place online for the first time

    Windrush Community Celebrations takes place online for the first time

    Windrush Community Celebrations takes place online for the first time

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus and the North Kent Caribbean Network for the first time ever organised a special online event in celebration of the Windrush generation. Poignantly the event took place on Windrush Day and had over 100 local community members in attendance. Civic guests also attended including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Bhagwara Vasudaven, KCC Leader, Mr Roger Gough, KCC Chairman Cllr Graham Gibbens, Mayor of Gravesham Cllr John Caller and Inspector Craig West from Kent Police.

    The event organisers Gurvinder Sandher CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council and the Chair of the North Kent Caribbean Network, Michelle Bramble felt this year’s celebrations were more important than ever in the midst of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests as well as the devastating impact Covid -19 has had on communities from a BAME background.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of KECC commented, “We were incredibly humbled and proud to be able to host the first ever online Windrush celebrations in recognition of the enormously positive contributions made by the Windrush generation and their decedents in the UK. Despite not being able to celebrate in person, we were no less enthused to celebrate with local members of the community and civic guests online. To say we are living in tumultuous times would be something of a painful understatement however, we wanted to champion the Windrush generations and celebrate their achievements especially when history has tended to overlook this. As such, we felt it imperative to take this valuable opportunity to celebrate in the midst of the impact of Covid – 19 which has hit BAME communities disproportionately higher. With the ongoing protests around Black Lives Matter and the widely reported recognition of systemic racism still prevalent in 2020 we will continue to celebrate and champion diversity until true equality is achieved.”

  • Diverse communities celebrate Commonwealth Day in Gravesham

    Diverse communities celebrate Commonwealth Day in Gravesham

    Diverse communities celebrate Commonwealth Day in Gravesham

    A special community event took place in Gravesham at Saint Andrew’s Arts Centre on Tuesday 10th March to celebrate the Commonwealth and the positive contribution made in the borough by local residents with links to Commonwealth countries. This event was part of Commonwealth Day celebrations which took place around the globe.

    The event was organised by the Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus and the North Kent Caribbean Network. The evening saw performances from Phase 5 Steel Band and the GTown Collective, a group of young grime rappers from the borough. Speakers included Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality Cohesion Council who spoke about the key role that the Commonwealth has played in British history including the positive contribution made by soldiers during the two World Wars. Michelle Bramble, the Chair of the North Kent Caribbean Network spoke about the Windrush generation and how their contribution towards the rebuilding of the UK after the Second World War should never be forgotten.

    Furthermore, a special award of recognition was presented to Alberta Theresa Jaggon, the widow of Cllr Joseph Jaggon a former Mayor of Gravesham. The award recognised both Mr and Mrs Jaggon’s contributions to the promotion of positive community relations in the borough over the many years.

    Guests included the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Gurdip Bungar, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Bhargwara Vasudaven, Chairman of the Kent County Council Cllr Ann Allen, Cllr John Burden Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, Inspector Craig West from Kent Police and Manpreet Dhaliwal the President of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “In today’s social climate I believe it is vital to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the vast diversity of Gravesham as well as listen to the many stories of those individuals who made their way to the UK from Commonwealth countries like Jamaica and India in the 1940’s. Those stories tell of great challenges and struggles and serve as a valuable foundation to the positive community relations we enjoy today.”

    Michelle Bramble, Chair of the North Kent Caribbean Network commented, “I am incredibly grateful to everyone who attended this event, especially the communities that hail from the many Commonwealth countries. Events like this are important, where different generations come together to remember and celebrate our shared histories.”

  • Community comes together to celebrate Black History Month

    Community comes together to celebrate Black History Month

    Black History Month celebrations climaxed in the borough with a special event which was arranged by Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Cohesion Plus and the North Kent Caribbean Network in partnership with Gravesham Borough Council. Some 200 attended the event in the Council Chamber which celebrated the significant and positive contribution made by those of Caribbean descent.

    Guests included the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Gurdip Bungar, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Bhagwara Vasudaven and Chairman of the KCC Cllr Ann Allen. Talks were also given by Lennox Rogers from local charity Refocus who spoke about his experience with gang violence and his eventual rehabilitation which led to the publishing of his new book ‘Breaking Better’. Rethink Sahayak spoke about issues of mental health within the black communities and the support they can provide. There were also performances by the Taboo Dance Company and rap/poet D-Wayne.

    Special awards were presented during the evening recognising the many achievements and contributions to the borough by local entrepreneurs, athletes, business owners and community workers. Winners included Commonwealth Games 2018 Bronze medallist Chev Townsend for his ground-breaking achievement in boxing, youth volunteer Darius Farrell, entrepreneur Steve Boss and former gang member / youth worker Lennox Rodgers.

    A special award for services to communities’ was presented to Patricia Fenton for her outstanding service with Metropolitan Police supporting victims of crime which included being a Family Liaison Officer to the family of Steven Lawrence in the aftermath of his murder.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “There have been a number of events taking place around Gravesham to celebrate Black History Month and I was particularly proud of what we were able to achieve with very limited resources. It is important that we use events like Black History Month to celebrate what binds us together as communities and to remember the past struggles and the sacrifices that the generations before us made. A particular highlight for me was the recognition of community champions who are often unsung but make a positive contribution within our local communities.”

  • Dartford Festival of Light 2019

    Dartford Festival of Light 2019

    The 11th Dartford Festival of Light returned to the borough on Friday 18th October. The festival was organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Cohesion Plus. The aim of the festival was to celebrate what binds the communities together in Dartford through the values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality.

    Some 2,000 people attended the festival and enjoyed the sights and sounds as musical performances took place on One Bell Corner. The lantern parade was made up 8 local schools, members of the community and performers which was led by the Deputy Mayor Cllr Rosanna Currans, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kelvin Holford and KCC Chairman Cllr Ann Allen.

    The parade departed from One Bell Corner, went via Hythe Street and Suffolk Road into the Orchards Shopping Centre, left out on to the High Street and then turned right at the Holy Trinity Church heading back towards Central Park. The festival climaxed with a spectacular free fireworks display finale.

    Gurvinder Sandher CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council, “At this moment in time when our nation is so divided it was so heart-warming to see Dartford come together as one and celebrate our annual Festival of Light. I always say that there is more that unites us than divides us and this event is a great of example of the positive impact the arts can have in bringing people together, young or old, faith or no faith and urban or rural. I am very proud of our positive working relationship with Dartford Borough Council and this has allowed the event to grow from strength to strength.”

  • Swale Fusion Festival of Light wows again

    Swale Fusion Festival of Light wows again

    Despite the wet weather Sittingbourne Town Centre was awash with colour and lights with over 2,500 participating in the 3rd Swale Fusion Festival of Light. The aim of the festival was to use the arts to bring communities together and celebrate the values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality.

    The celebrations were organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Swale Borough Council.

     

    The Festival kicked off on Sittingbourne High Street with spectacular performances from a host of culturally diverse acts as well a large scale mobile art installation that wowed and interacted with the crowds. Then the parade, featuring 13 local schools made its way along the High Street, through Roman Square and climaxed at Albany Park. Along the way the parade collected hundreds of new people who joined in to create a powerful mass of colour, noise and light. Albany Park was specially decorated for the evening with winter themed lights and installation. The festival climaxed with a spectacular firework finale.

    In the build-up KECC worked in partnership with Cohesion Plus, Same Sky, Ideas Test, Big Fish Arts and Platforma Festival around community engagement, providing opportunities for free arts activities across the borough.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “The weather may have let us down but the communities of Swale certainly did not! I’m so grateful to everyone who attended and not only celebrated the Festival but also our shared values that bind us together as a community. The Swale Fusion Festival of Light continues to grow year upon year and we are already looking at more ambitious plans for next year funding permitting. Events like these are so important as they celebrate what unites us rather than what divides us.”

  • Maidstone Community Mela 2019

    Maidstone Community Mela 2019

    The Maidstone Community Mela in Whatman Park again proved to be popular with over 3000 attending the annual celebration of music, food and dance from around the world. The Mela which is organised by a small group of community partners and volunteers led by Kent Equality Cohesion Council, the Maidstone Cultural Group and Cohesion Plus has proven to be popular in the borough since 2003 despite the many challenges it has faced over recent years.

    The celebrations were formally launched by the Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Marian Ring, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Bill Cockcroft and Kent Equality Cohesion Council CEO Gurvinder Sandher. Those in attendance enjoyed a range of culturally diverse performances including Kent based Phase 5 Steel Band, Folk Band Ukelear Fallout, Maidstone Nepalese Community Group, Maidstone Malayalee Group and Kitka Bulgarian Folk Dance Troupe.

    A Particular highlight was the Cohesion Plus produced Folkin Fusion Collective a high energy show bringing together music and dance from North India and Southern Africa which featured Four by Four Bhangra and Uzambezi Arts. The Mela was headlined by the Kings of Motown who had everyone up and dancing to the classic Motown hits.

    Whilst off stage the arts activity continued with interactive performances by the Chinese Lions, interactive workshops in the World in the Tent which focused on Nepalese and Roma culture and heritage, and for the younger members of the audience there were free arts workshops delivered by LV21.

    The food stalls also proved to be very popular with Indian, Chinese, Nepalese cuisines being served alongside burgers, doughnuts and hot dogs with many selling out whilst the Prosecco bar also did brisk trade.

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council CEO Gurvinder Sandher commented “I am very proud of what we achieved in Maidstone this year. People do not always appreciate how small the team is that puts the Mela on, but all the hard work is worthwhile when you get so many people turning up and supporting us. The Maidstone Community Mela I believe is very important for Maidstone, its ethos is to use food, music and dance to bring communities together and celebrate all that binds us together. The Mela was set up in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks and its message is just as important today as it was in 2003 when we first started. I have been involved with the Mela from the start and I am very keen to develop it further next year and we are keen to take it back to Mote Park if we can get a date and also raise the necessary funding.”

  • Mela Festival Brings Communities Together in Tunbridge Wells

    Mela Festival Brings Communities Together in Tunbridge Wells

    The 14th Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival proved to be a big hit with the local community with thousands attending and enjoying the festivities in Calverley Grounds.

    The Mela was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus and the Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Arts Council England and celebrates the diversity and cohesion of the borough through music, food and dance.

    One of the highlights of the Festival was the “Dancing Maharajas” show which saw the crowd wooed by a life size elephant walking through the crowd joined by an entourage of singers, dancers and drummers.

    Other highlights included performance by local Tunbridge Wells Groups Fireflies who opened the Mela Festival, Just Dance a group of primary school aged children who performed a fusion of Hollywood and Bollywood, Sahrudaya who performed music and dance from South India, and the ever popular Paul Dunton Orchestra.

    Artists from a further afield included the Sussex Syrian Trio who brought the sounds of the Middle East to the event, the energetic Dance Asia who had everyone up and dancing, DDFK Brass Fusion who played a string on popular hits and Common Denominator who performed classic reggae hits.

    There were food stalls from North and South India, Caribbean, Thailand and Greece as well as ice creams, doughnuts and fudge whilst the Tunbridge Wells Forum Bar served craft

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “The Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival is a great example of how the arts and food can be used to bring people together. The event is going from strength to strength and we are very grateful for all the support shown by our partners and hard working volunteers without whom none of this would be possible. There is an assumption that the Mela Festival just happens, not many people realise the month and months of hard work and preparation that goes into it which can be a challenge for small organisations like ours.”

  • Gravesham Fusion Festival Proves Popular

    Gravesham Fusion Festival Proves Popular

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council were proud to be partners for the Fusion Festival which came to Gravesend Town Centre on Saturday June 15. The pop up street festival showcased a range of artists and art forms including a roaming elephant, dancing lions, mime artists, samba, bhangra, brass, choir and calypso.

    The aim of the festival was to bring culturally diverse arts to the heart of local communities and to showcase new performances especially in an area like Gravesham which has had traditionally low levels of engagement with the arts.

    The Festival also saw the premiere of Cohesion Plus’s new production working with Festive Road the “Dancing Maharaja’s“. Other highlights included performances by Bloco Fogo Samba, No Street Limit Band, Dancing Chinese Lions and the Rock Choir as well as stilt walkers, mime artists and LV21 who delivered interactive arts workshops for young people.

    The festival was organised by Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council, and was supported by Gravesham Borough Council and Arts Council England.

  • Cohesion of Dartford celebrated at Saint George’s Day

    Cohesion of Dartford celebrated at Saint George’s Day

    Dartford was abuzz with some of the biggest Saint George’s Day celebrations which took place on Tuesday 23rd April. 550 children from 9 local schools participated in the annual and took the opportunity to showcase the amazing art pieces they had been creating in the lead up to the event. The celebrations were organised in partnership by Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus supported by Dartford Borough Council.

    Performances took place on One Bell Corner and were followed by a parade led by North Kent resident Russell Palmer as Saint George himself. The parade began from the Civic Centre, went through the Orchard Shopping Centre, stopping briefly at Memorial Gardens where the flag of Saint George was raised. The celebrations climaxed at the Bandstand in Central Park where there followed a programme of entertainment which climaxed with the National Anthem.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “Given the challenging climate we find ourselves in recently, it is so heartening to see that the communities of the borough regardless of their ethnic, religious or social background continue to come out and support such a wonderful celebration. I truly believe that the spirit of the communities is reflected in events such as St George’s Day where we prefer to celebrate what brings us together rather than what divides us. We should take away a message of unity and strength from today’s event.”