History of the Multicultural Group

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council HISTORY OF THE MULTICULTURAL GROUP MARCH 2009 ALBERT MOSLEY Production Date: MARCH 2009 Review Date: OADBY AND WIGSTON MULTICULTURAL GROUP 1992 – 2009 CULTURAL FESTIVALS First meeting On 11 th May 1992 a group called together by the then Mayor, Councillor P R Upton, and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor R D Allen, met in the Council Chamber to consider the proposal that a MultiCultural gathering be held in the Borough. This followed a MultiCultural gathering at Moat Community College in September 1991, which Councillor Jeffrey Kaufman from Oadby had attended. The main discussion was whether it should be a cultural or religious gathering and it was decided (25 to 7) that it should be a cultural event. An organising committee of 13 members was set up which met and agreed that Carol Marriage (on the staff of Beauchamp College) be appointed Chairperson, Jeffrey Kaufman Vice Chairman, Fred Olney Secretary and Albert Mosley Treasurer. Beauchamp College Festival Sunday June 6 th 1993 In order that an appeal could be made for funds, a formal Constitution for Oadby and Wigston MultiCultural Festival Association was drawn up and agreed at a meeting on 12 th October 1992. The purpose of the Association was “to celebrate the diversity of ethnic and cultural groups in the Borough… and to promote friendship and increased understanding between them.” Grants were received from Oadby Village Hall Trust (£500), Leicester Arts and Museums £200, and O&W Borough Council (£100). A very successful festival was held at Beauchamp College on Sunday June 6 th 1993 with over 1500 people attending including:- • 20 individuals or groups performing, compared by Herdie White and Mark Hayman of BBC Radio Leicester • 9 Workshops (music in different cultures, calligraphy etc) • Demonstrations of hand-painting, different kinds of dress, storytelling etc • A debate on living in a multicultural society • 26 Exhibitions and displays (different cultures, religions etc) • Opportunities to speak to people all over the world (via local Radio HAMS) • Traditional food from Poland, Asia, Africa, Malaysia, Tunisia and the Jewish community • A minibus running every ½ hour from Beauchamp to St Thomas’ Church, South Wigston in the hope that people from that end of the Borough would also come. There was a good report on the Festival in the Leicester Mercury. It left a balance in hand of £193. Attempt to hold a Festival at Guthlaxton The committee met in October 1993 to consider the possibility of another festival, preferably at Guthlaxton College, Wigston. in 1995. Provisional plans were made but eventually it turned out that though the previous Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer were willing to continue, there were not sufficient other volunteers (especially from the staff of Guthlaxton College) to make it possible, and at a Special General Meeting of the Association on 24 th October 1994 it was agreed that the Association be dissolved and the balance of £193 be returned to Oadby Village Hall Trust. MultiCultural 2000 A task group was appointed to arrange a Millennium Celebration at Abington High School on Sunday October 15 th 2000, along the lines of the celebration at Beauchamp College in 1993, but in the end it did not succeed in doing so. £1,000 which had been granted by the Borough Council towards the cost of a Millennium celebration was retained for future work of the MultiCultural Group. (£279.50 of this was used to pay the cost of the coach taking a group to Beth Shalom in 2007 – see below).. Navratri In 2001, 2002 very successful celebrations of Navratri at Parklands were organised and people of all faiths and cultures were invited. MULTI-FAITH CELEBRATIONS MultiFaith Celebration October 1994 At the same time Councillor Jeffrey Morris had been made Mayor in May 1994 and had indicated that he would like a MultiFaith Celebration in place of the annual Civic Service, and he asked Jeffrey Kaufman and Albert Mosley to explore this possibility. It was suggested that each of the main religious communities should contribute a reading from their Scriptures and a prayer and perhaps a hymn or song, and there would be refreshments from the different cultures represented.. Representatives of the Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh communities were invited to a meeting at Jeffrey Kaufman’s house at which this was discussed. It was soon after Nelson Mandela had been installed as President of the Republic of South Africa and the group watched a video of this event, at which prayers had been offered by the leaders of each of the main faith groups in the country. It was agreed that a MultiFaith Celebration be held As each faith group decided on its contribution, it was circulated and checked by the rest to ensure that all were happy with what would take place. The event was held in Abington High School on October 23 rd 1994. About 120 people had been invited, from the different faith/cultural groups in the Borough. It was emphasised at the beginning (and at the other festivals that followed) that those taking part did not by doing so suggest they believed all religions were equal, nor that they were like different paths up a mountain all leading to the same goal. Each participant believed that his/her own faith was the true way to worship God and to serve Him, and that in some ways people of other faiths were probably mistaken. but that each had a lot to learn from the others. It was recognised that it was in no way inter-faith worship, and most would not be able to join in the spirit of the readings and prayers of the faiths other than their own, though it might be possible for all to join together in a benediction at the end. Together with Mayors from other Boroughs and representatives of organisations, about 200 people were present. MultiFaith Celebration October 27 th 1996 In the year 1996-7 Councillor Jeffrey Kaufman was the Mayor. He decided to have a Jewish Civic Service in June 1996, to which people of the different faith communities would be invited and leaders of each community would have the opportunity to show their support; and to have a MultiFaith Celebration at Parklands on October 27 th , similar to the one at Abington High School in October 1994. This Celebration was called “A Celebration and Learning Experience” and about 200 attended.. Festivals of Light November 9 th 1997 A similar celebration was held at Parklands on November 9 th 1997, demonstrating the meanings of Diwali, Hannukah, Christmas and the significance of light in Muslim celebrations, and this time groups of children from each faith community contributed. In planning this it was decided that the emphasis would not be on readings from the Scriptures, but on bringing people together through the mutual enjoyment of music, food and entertaining performances. Formal invitations were not given, but members of the public (and especially parents of the children) were given a general invitation to come along. About 300 came. The proceeds went to the Mayor’s Charity, the Rainbows. MultiFaith Celebration January 31 st 1999 When Councillor Lesley Thornton was Mayor, she invited the Rev Lesley Matthias, curate at St Peter’s, Oadby to organise a similar Celebration. Civic Service October 19 th 2003 The Civic Service when Councillor Peter Valentine was Mayor used the Anglican order of service, but it was adapted to allow representatives of the various faiths to talk about their hopes for the Borough and its residents. MultiCultural Harvest Festival September 24 th 2006 When Councillor Helen Loydall was Mayor 2005-6 she arranged that the Harvest Festival at the United Reformed Church in Wigston was a MultiCultural event. Food from different countries was on display, and people of different faiths spoke about the way harvest was celebrated in their own communities. The service was followed by a buffet lunch. At each of these celebrations people were able to learn about cultures and faiths other than their own, and to meet and talk with people of other cultures whilst having refreshments. There were 200 – 300 people at each celebration., and when they were reported in the Press more people learned about them. MULTI-CULTURAL GROUP In June 1996 the Chief Executive of Oadby and Wigston Council, within the context of the Equal Opportunities Policy, proposed the formation of a multicultural group, and a meeting of representatives of different groups was held on 17 th December 1996, at which Mr R S Sandhu was elected chairperson. It was suggested that the Group should consist of 6 Council Members and 8-12 people from different cultural groups (in fact the number of non- Council members has increased considerably, but normally only 8 – 12 attend).. At a subsequent meeting it was agreed that the Aims and Roles of the Group would be: • to promote education and greater understanding of the cultural diversity of the residents of the Borough and to recognise any implications arising therefrom • to involve people of all backgrounds in Council activities and service to ensure that these activities and services meet the needs of the whole Borough, and to promote the involvement of people from diverse cultural backgrounds in existing activities • to provide opportunities for residents of different backgrounds to work together on projects to meet particular needs which may be recognised by the group • to assist in the training of Council Officers and Members so that they are better equipped to recognise the needs of people from different cultural backgrounds and ensure that services are most appropriately delivered • to positively promote intercultural understanding and to organise multicultural civic gatherings on appropriate occasions • to investigate any implications for the Borough in terms of urban and race relations following the re-organisation of Local Government in Leicestershire • to liaise with all appropriate agencies and bodies representing diverse cultural backgrounds and the County Council, in aiming to promote good urban and race relations in the Borough.

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