Social Justice. Equality. Enterprise.

Carlisle Unity Festival - 6th August 2016 Carlisle City Centre

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Carlisle Unity Festival 2016

Carlisle Unity Festival

Introduction

 AWAZ Cumbria in partnership with Carlisle One World Centre and a range of community, voluntary, public and private sector organisations is hosting a community festival to celebrate the strengths and diversity of the people of Carlisle in the City Centre on Saturday 6th August between 10am and 4pm.

 Organisations and community groups will have an information stand, ideally under a gazebo or marquee, in the city centre and/or will take part in an International Coffee morning followed by International Food Tasting in the Old Town Hall, deliver workshops or perform from the Bandstand according to the activities they wish to promote on the day.

The Carlisle Unity Festival will be a free of charge public event appealing to all communities, ages and abilities. If it is a success in 2016 we will make it an annual, larger event.

To book a stand space at Carlisle Unity Festival, please fill in the application form on-line at: http://bit.ly/CarlisleUnityFestival. Please read the terms and conditions before submitting your completed form.

You can download by clicking here the Carlisle Unity Festival's Terms and Conditions for stall holder. 

The Need

Carlisle Unity Festival will be the first of its kind to take place in the city. It follows the spirit of Carlisle Culture Bazaars (2007-2012), the ongoing popularity of local family fun days and festivals such as the Upperby Gala and, the recent Taste of One World in Carlisle food festival. This evening organised by Carlisle One World Centre in Greystone Community Centre in January 2016 as part of its One World in Carlisle year, attracted a large number of people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds but due to limited space available was difficult to manage within the small community centre setting. The overall consensus was that more, similar events are needed and that people would take part.

A number of people from diverse backgrounds within all sections of the community feel that it is more important now than ever to stand up to racism and uncertainty by promoting diversity and the work of community groups in our city.

After the 23rd June 2016 Referendum results there are reports suggesting a 42% rise in race and Anti- Muslim hate crime nationally in the last 2 weeks of June as compared to same period in the last year. There is a need more than ever to demonstrate that people and communities are united in their spirit and action against any kind of intolerance, hate and xenophobia in Carlisle.

The Carlisle City Council is very supportive of the event and we have a great number of groups already involved but would welcome more.

Aims and Objectives

 The Carlisle Unity Festival aim to foster good relations, celebrate diversity and build community networks by providing community groups, voluntary and social enterprise, public and private sector organisations an opportunity to showcase their services and a range of activities on offer within the community, that local people can get involved in to raise awareness of issues affecting their lives and livelihoods, sharing and learning new skills and opportunities and tasting foods and enjoy music, visual and performing arts from around the world in the Carlisle City Centre.

There will be a particular focus on empowering the voices of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and other marginalised groups living in Carlisle and some of their activities will be highlighted through information stalls, food, workshops and performances.

 The Carlisle Unity Festival will celebrate the recent contributions of Carlisle people to support the rehabilitation of Earthquake victims in Nepal, and the on-going efforts to help and provide relief for refugees in Europe and elsewhere as well as the increasing diversity of community life and activity in the city.

Carlisle Unity Festival

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