Kent Equality Cohesion Council

Tag: Gurvinder Sandher

  • Gravesham Saint George Day 2017

    Gravesham Saint George Day 2017

    The annual Saint George’s Day Parade and celebrations took place in Gravesham on Friday April 21. 600 Children from 11 local schools took part in the event which was organised by Cohesion Plus in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council supported by Gravesham Borough Council in what were some of the biggest celebrations taking place in England. The aim of the event was to celebrate the patron Saint of England and bring together the diverse communities in Gravesham to celebrate this important day.

    Before the procession started there was entertainment in the town centre with performances by the Premier Brass Band, Big Fish Arts and the Bollywood Brass Band which warmed up the gathering crowd. The parade led by Saint George himself played by Gravesham resident Russel Palmer started outside Saint George’s Church. Along with the schools the Parade also featured special guests the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Dr. Bhargwara Vasudaven and the Mayor of Gravesham, Cllr Goatley as well as performances by the Brass Bands, Four by Four Dhol Drummers, Stilt Walkers and comedy medieval jesters and Shakespearian actors.

    The Parade went up the High Street into King Street, through Saint George’s Shopping Centre and then headed back through town before finishing on Community Square. Throughout the parade members of the public waved their flags of Saint George and encouraged the children as the parade went by.

    Once the parade climaxed on Community Square the 600 school children sang Happy Birthday to HM The Queen before listening to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant who is the Queen’s representative in Kent thank everyone for their participation. Following some further entertainment the flags of Saint George were raised over Community Square.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council who led on the organisation of the celebrations commented “I really do believe that other parts of the Country could learn from what we are doing here and how we use Saint George’s Day to bring diverse communities together, to celebrate our shared values. We use the celebrations as a source of promoting unity and cohesion rather than discord and segregation. I am grateful to all the young people who worked so hard in the build-up and our partners including Gravesham Borough Council and Arts Council England for their on-going support.”

  • Gravesham Vaisakhi Celebrations

    Gravesham Vaisakhi Celebrations

    Thousands took part in the annual Sikh festival of Vaisakhi in Gravesham over the Easter weekend with people coming from all over Kent to participate. Vaisakhi commemorates the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s formation of the Khalsa Panth in 1699 (the community of committed Sikhs) which created the faith as it is practised today.

    The celebrations were launched on Thursday with a special service on the Community Square where the Sikh flag was raised by the President of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara Davinder Singh Bains. This was followed by a programme of hymns, Gatka (Sikh Martial Arts) and Bhangra Dancing before donations of food and drink were given out to passers-by and members of the local congregation.

    The centrepiece of the celebrations took place on Easter Saturday with the Nagar Kirtan procession (nagger means town and kirtan means the singing of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book) taking place. The procession started on the grounds of the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara where those in attendance heard at the start from special guests including the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Goatley, Adam Holloway MP, Police and Crime Commissioner Mathew Scott and Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr Bhargawa Vasudaven. Then led by the Panj Piare (five beloved of the Guru) the procession went through the Town Centre where it was well received by members of the public who stopped to see the colourful spectacle and enjoyed free donations (seva) of food and drink as the procession passed. Following a short stop for prayers at the Guru Ravidass Gurdwara in Brandon Street the procession headed back to the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara. In addition to the thousands who walked in the Nagar Kirtan there were a number of community floats and groups taking part including Lethal Soundz, Guru Nanak Punjabi School, Kent Kirtan Society, Punjab United Football Club, Four by Four Bhangra, Jugnu Bhangra, Guru Nanak Sports Club and Guru Nanak Football Club.

    Once the prayers had been said thousands joined in on the celebrations on the sports field where there was information stands from partners including Kent Police, Rethink Mental Illness, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and local community projects, a fun fair, Sikh martial arts and dozens of stalls giving out free food and drink to those in attendance. Award winning International Bhangra and Folk Star Sukshinder Shinda performed a special set of religious songs to bring the day to an exciting climax.

    The celebrations concluded on the Sunday at the Gurdwara where prayers were read and donations made for the up keep of the running of the Gurdwara. The special guest of honour was the High Commissioner of India His Excellency Y.K. Sinha.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council who has been working with the Guru Nanak Darbar Management Committee to organise the festivities said “Vaisakhi is a great example of how volunteers from across the community can come together to organise a community celebration which is enjoyed by thousands. I am very grateful to all the volunteers who have given up their time freely over the past few months to work with me on pulling the Vaisakhi celebrations together. I am also grateful to key partners such as Gravesham Borough Council and Kent Police for their advice and support in the build-up, event like Vaisakhi can only take place by working in partnership.”

  • Saint George’s Day Celebrations 2017

    Saint George’s Day Celebrations 2017

    Saint George’s Day Celebrations 2017

    Preparations are underway for the Saint George’s Day celebrations which will be taking place in Gravesham and Dartford on April 21. The festivities have been organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus supported by Gravesham Borough Council, Dartford Borough Council and Arts Council England in what will be some of the biggest celebrations taking place in England.

    Gurvinder Sandher CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council commented “We are really pleased to be again in a position to organise the Saint Georges Day celebrations in Gravesham and Dartford. I believe passionately that events like Saint Georges Day are a great way of bringing diverse communities together and celebrating our core values which makes England the country it is. As ever, I am very grateful to all our partners for their ongoing support and their belief in our work.”

    In the build up to the day 21 local schools and some 1200 young people will benefit from creative arts workshops as they prepare for the parades which will be the highlight of the celebrations in the boroughs.

    The celebrations in Gravesham will take place between 10am and 11.30am and in Dartford between 12.45pm and 2.30pm. Entertainment will include music from Premier Brass Band, Bollywood Brass Band, performances by Stilt Walkers, Morris Dancers, Shakespeare as well as a Saint George in full armour.

    The aim of the events is to celebrate the patron Saint of England and bring together the diverse communities in Gravesham and Dartford through the arts to celebrate this important day.

    2017 A4 Poster GRAVESHAM
    2017 A4 Poster DARTFORD
  • Street Cricket Project Launched

    Street Cricket Project Launched

    Kent Cricket Community Team in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Kent County Council Youth Service and Kent Police have launched a free Street Cricket Project which will take place every Wednesday at the Northfleet Youth Centre on Hall Road which between 5.30pm and 6.30pm.

    The official launch took place on January 25th 2017 with some 25 young people attending along with a number of guests including the Deputy Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Harold Craske, representatives from Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Gravesham Borough Council and Safer Kent along with community groups

    The project will help to promote a healthy active lifestyle, along with educational workshops relating to the issues affecting young people while at the same time giving them access to play cricket.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “We strongly believe that sport is an excellent way of bringing young people together, breaking down barriers and promoting cohesion. We’re really excited to be working with the Kent Cricket Community Team and hope that over the coming weeks the young people will not only get an opportunity to play cricket in a relaxed environment but also benefit from talks from our partners around various topics including healthy lifestyles.”

  • Christmas Celebrations Prove Popular in Gravesham

    Christmas Celebrations Prove Popular in Gravesham

    After months of hard work thousands of people filled Gravesend Town Centre to enjoy a Christmas inspired celebration.

    Cohesion Plus working in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council and Gravesham Borough Council supported by Arts Council England organised the Gravesham Festival of Christmas Light element of the Gravesham Christmas Lights Switch on. This featured 12 local schools and a parade of over 1200 people from across the borough. They were accompanied by Christmas Mime Elves, Santa and his helpers on stilts, Bloco Fogo Samba, Crocodile Brass Band, the Black Knights and the Four by Four Dhol Drummers.

    In the build up to the event some 550 young people from across the borough benefited from free creative arts workshops working with Same Sky Arts on the Christmas Lanterns. The schools who took part in the celebrations were Ifield, Kings Farm, St Botolph’s, St Johns Primary, St George’s, Northfleet Girls, Holy Trinity, Cecil Road, Riverview Infants, Riverview Juniors, Northfleet Technology College and Painters Ash

    The parade led by the Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Greta Goatley started off from the St George’s Shopping Centre and went through New Road, up Windmill Street and culminated on Community Square where the Christmas Tree was switched on following performances by the Gravesham Pantomime Cast of Jack and the Beanstalk.

    Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council said “I am really pleased with how the celebrations went. The event was a great spectacle and an example of how the arts can be used to promote cohesion and bringing diverse communities together. I strongly believe that Christmas should be celebrated widely and should be used like we have done with this event as a way of celebrating our positive community relations.”

  • Festival of Christmas Lights Coming to Gravesham

    Festival of Christmas Lights Coming to Gravesham

    Kent Equality Cohesion Council has been working in partnership with Cohesion Plus and Gravesham Borough Council on the Gravesham Festival of Lights which will take place on Friday November 18th between 4pm and 6pm.

    The town centre event will be kicking off from 4pm. Crowds can expect street entertainers including Christmas Mime Elves, Santa and his helpers on stilts, Bloco Fogo Samba, Crocodile Christmas Brass Band and much more.

    At 5pm there will then be a parade through the town before the lights are switched on. This will feature 11 local schools and some 500 young people from across the borough, along with the bands and performers. The schools have been working with Same Sky Arts on Christmas Lanterns which they will showcase during the parade.

    The procession will set off from St George’s Centre and travel through New Road, up Windmill Street and culminate on Community Square.

    From 5.30pm, at Community Square, the lights will officially be switched on by the Mayor and there will be half an hour of entertainment. This will include a Jack and the Beanstalk panto stage area, where the cast of this year’s show will amuse crowds.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “We believe that it is important for communities to come together and celebrate shared values. Our Christmas celebrations follow our Saint George’s Day celebrations in April and the celebrations for HM Queen’s 90th birthday in June. I am delighted that so many young people will be taking part in the parade and we look forward to bringing the town centre to a halt with a combination of music, dance, lights and the diverse communities of the borough.”

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  • Festival lights up Dartford

    Festival lights up Dartford

    Lights, music and fireworks were the order of the day at the 8th Dartford Festival of Light took place on Friday October 21. Organised by Cohesion Plus in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Dartford Borough Council, KCC Members Fund and Arts Council England, the aim of the Festival was to bring the communities of Dartford together through the arts and promote key values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality

    12 local schools and some 650 children who benefited from free creative arts workshops then took part in a lantern parade led by the Mayor of Dartford John Burrell, KECC CEO Gurvinder Sandher, Gareth Johnson MP and the Leader of Dartford Borough Council Jeremy Kite MBE. The parade started in the High Street and then went via Hythe Street, the Orchard Shopping Centre and Market Street to Central Park where it climaxed by the Band Stand.

    Once the Festival reached Central Park after a series of short performances and presentations to the schools, the evening climaxed with a spectacular fireworks and lights display to climax the celebrations delivered by the awards winning Phoenix Fireworks.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of KECC, “We are really proud of what we were able to achieve in Dartford this year. Great credit needs to go to our partners for their ongoing support and their confidence in our work. We are very much committed to using events like this and St George’s Day to promote community cohesion and bring the diverse communities of Dartford together as one. It was so good both young and old, schools from urban and rural parts of the borough participating and enjoying themselves.”

  • Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light

    Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light

    Bright lights and colourful vegetable inspired lanterns lit up a chilly autumn night in the rural village of Wrotham on Friday 14th of October. The Wrotham Festival of Light which is now in its fourth year was opened by Phase 5 Steel Band outside St. Georges Church; they were followed by African ensemble Uzambezi, Four by Four Bhangra Dancers and Blogo Fogo Samba.

    Following the performances the lantern parade which celebrated the diversity of Kent and the Harvest Festival made its way through the village. The parade featured parents and pupils from 4 local schools; St. George’s Primary, Trottiscliffe Primary, Platt Primary and West Malling Primary.

    The festival reached its climax on the grounds of Wrotham Cricket Club where a spectacular firework and light show took place.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “I am very grateful to everyone who attended and supported this community celebration. Events like this are important in rural communities as a means of promoting cohesion and providing new experiences for those in attendance. The feedback we have received has been positive and I hope we can replicate this event in other parts of Kent in 2017.”

    David Jones the Head teacher of Saint George’s School commented “The pupils really enjoyed the whole experience, from preparing the lanterns in special workshops in school, to seeing culturally diverse artists perform in the heart of the village to taking part in the lantern parade. It is important that young people get a chance to experience new things and we hope to work with our partners to put on a similar event next year, hopefully with even more local schools involved.”

    The Festival was organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Saint Georges Primary School and the schools in the Pilgrims Way Partnership and was part funded by Arts Council England.

  • Dartford Festival of Light 2016

    Dartford Festival of Light 2016

    The 8th Dartford Festival of Light will take place on Friday October 21 between 6pm and 7.30pm. Organised by Cohesion Plus in partnership with Kent Equality Cohesion Council with the support of Dartford Borough Council and Arts Council England, the aim of the Festival is to bring the communities of Dartford together through the arts and promote key values of respect, excellence, friendship and equality.

    Artistic partners Same Sky Arts have been delivering creative workshops in 12 local schools with some 650 young people benefiting.

    The Festival this year is the most ambitious to date and is split into 3 distinct parts. Between 6pm and 6.30pm there will be entertainment on One Bell Corner as Phase 5 Steel Band where will be performing as will the Crocodile Brass on the High Street. Bloco Fogo will welcome train commuters at the station with their high energy Samba drumming performance.

    12 local schools will then take part in a lantern parade starting around 6.30pm The parade also involving musicians will be led by the Mayor of Dartford John Burrell, Chair of Kent ECC Dev Sharma MBE and the Leader of Dartford Borough Council Jeremy Kite MBE and will start on One Bell Corner in the High Street. It will then go via Hythe Street, the Orchard Shopping Centre and Market Street to Central Park where it will climax by the Band Stand.

    Once the Festival reaches Central Park after a series of short performances and presentations to the schools, there will be a spectacular fireworks and lights display to climax the celebrations delivered by the awards winning Phoenix Fireworks.

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  • Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light 2016

    Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light 2016

    Colourful lights, a lantern parade, music and fireworks will come to the rural village of Wrotham which plays host to the 4th Wrotham Festival of Fusion and Light on Friday October 14.

    Organised in partnership by Cohesion Plus, Kent Equality Cohesion Council, Saint Georges Primary School and the schools in the Pilgrims Way Partnership, the Festival takes place in 3 distinct parts.

    During the first phase there will be a fusion performance by Phase 5 Steel Band outside St. Georges Church as the children prepare for the lantern parade.

    The second phase begins with the lantern parade between 6.15pm and 7pm involving some 500 people as well as entertainment by the Bloco Fogo Samba Group, Four by Four Bhangra and Uzambezi African Arts.

    The festival will climax with a fireworks and lights finale by Phoenix.

    According to Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council “Much of our work takes place in the urban area of Kent, so it is great that we are able to work in a rural area to promote cohesion and bring communities together. We are grateful for all the local schools taking part and the on-going support provided by the local community.”

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