Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Dartford Borough Council

  • 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.”

  • 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.”

  • Dartford Festival of Light Returns with a Bang!

    Dartford Festival of Light Returns with a Bang!

    The Dartford Festival of Light returned to the borough on 26th November and was organised by Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Dartford Borough Council and Kent Equality Cohesion Council. The event which normally runs in the borough annually last took place in 2019 and was subsequently paused in 2020 due to the pandemic. The aim of the festival was to celebrate what binds the communities together in Dartford through the values of local heroes, friendship and community.

    11 local schools and some 2000 people attended the festival which boasted street artists and live music. In its 11th year, the parade, which began in the High Street was led by Mayor of Dartford Cllr Rosanna Currans, Leader of Dartford Borough Council Cllr Jeremy Kite and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kelvin Holford and made its way onto Market Street, along Market Place, down the High Street and finally making its way to Central Park where short speeches were made to the crowds. The evening climaxed in a dazzling fireworks display.

    Gurvinder Sandher, the Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus added, “We have all been starved of collective, community activity for so long. Therefore it’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to deliver the Dartford Festival of Light this year after a very trying and long 18 months. It was incredibly heart-warming to see so many people come out and support the festival despite the cold weather. The Dartford Festival of Light is a wonderful example of how such events can break down barriers, celebrating all that binds us together young or old, faith or no faith and urban or rural. Special thanks go to our event partners Dartford Borough Council whose support has allowed the festival of light to flourish and grow over the past decade.”

  • Gravesham and Dartford Celebrate St George’s Day Virtually

    Gravesham and Dartford Celebrate St George’s Day Virtually

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Cohesion Plus supported by Same Sky Arts, Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council have produced two films to celebrate Saint George’s Day.

    The films featured 13 local schools from the Aletheia Anglican Academies Trust and the Galaxy Trust across Gravesham and Dartford. The films also feature community partners, local artists, as well as the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr John Caller and Mayor of Dartford Cllr Roger Perfitt.

    Working with some 800 young people in the build up to the festivities, arts workshops took place and colourful Saint George’s Day flags were created with messages of thanks for the NHS. The films aim to celebrate the patron Saint of England and bring together the diverse communities of Gravesham and Dartford online.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “I am proud despite the challenges of the pandemic that we were able to work with local schools in Gravesham and Dartford to pull together an online celebration. In a time of division and isolation it is necessary to celebrate our shared values, unity and what binds us together rather than what divides us.”

  • Dartford Vaccine Video Goes Live

    Dartford Vaccine Video Goes Live

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Cohesion Plus were once again pleased to further the work being done to promote the uptake of the vaccine within the communities of Kent, this time partnering with Dartford Borough Council, community and faith partners and Kent Community Health NHS Foundation. The message was produced to help spread awareness of the vaccine and to dispel any lingering doubts and concerns around it.

    Gurvinder Sandher, CEO of the Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented, “As the country begins to ease out of lockdown next month we are fully aware of how many of us want to return to a sense of normality as quickly as possible. In order to get there, we must protect ourselves and each other and the only way to do that is by taking the vaccine and having conversations with loved ones and friends to help minimize any lingering fear there may yet be. We’ve seen really positive numbers come out to take the vaccine and we just need to ensure that everyone who has yet to receive it does their part.”

  • 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.”

  • 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.”

  • 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.”