The Festival of Light has become an eagerly awaited annual event for the people of Sydenham aimed at increasing community cohesion and community spirit but most importantly bringing an incredible, exciting and fun event to the heart of our small estate. Over the years it has consistently brought together the community in unity for an evening of activities, performances and a firework display. The event takes place around the period of both Diwali and Bonfire Night and is open to interpretation by all attendees.
Working to include all, the event has displays and activities, many of which directly reflect the needs and wants of the local community.
The event has music, dance, funfair, art activities and culminates in a fantastic firework display!
The event will be financially inclusive – the festival and fireworks will be free– many residents on the estate are households with a low income and who are unable to access other seasonal events such as this.

What we'll deliver:

• Promote financial inclusion as it will be free to attend and promoting free services to the community
• Provide people with an opportunity to see what is available within their community centre
• Provide the opportunity to meet many people and let them know where to go for advice and support
• Breakdown of barriers including both cultural and age as people unite to celebrate together across the community.
• Build the strength of our community through bringing the community together in a celebration of diversity
• Create a sense of pride to local residents for their community and the environment of Sydenham
• Give over 1000 people the chance to get together and celebrate

Why it's a great idea:

The Festival of light is a truly outstanding multicultural event. The event was created to bring our community together and it really does that. There are people of all ages and walks of life that attend the event and benefit from it.
Sydenham is privileged to be a multicultural and very diverse community and there can at times be racial tension and it is events like this that are reducing those incidents.
Many people in our community do not drive and are unable to attend the big expensive events that happen on the outskirts of Leamington.
The festival of Light is a highly anticipated event in the Sydenham calendar no other event that provides a platform where all members of the community can attend and enjoy.
No other event run on the estate brings so much joy to so many.

Steps to get it done:

• We will book a firework display company to ensure safety compliant event
• We will book the funfair and other children's activities
• We will find local acts such as Bhangra groups, Children's entertainers, musicians and classical dance
• We will form a planning group of volunteers and SYDNI staff members
• We will get additional insurance for the Firework element
• We will get the help of others such as St John's ambulance for First-Aid
• We will involve local agencies to run fun interactive activities and promote their service
• We will publicise the event through as many means as possible
• We will recruit volunteers from the local community to help set up the festival and steward the event