The Leicester peace & love festival aims to be a whole community event that promotes the endless endeavour of seeking peace, togetherness and harmonious living. This will have tremendous outcomes for the present and future for stable community relations - especially after the disturbing clashes which took place in September 2022 between members of the Hindu and Pakistani communities. The festival will use the performing arts, awareness raising events and community leadership to promote: 1. community cohesion and mutual inter-communal respect. 2. better community relations with statutory agencies. 3. anti-extremism & anti-terrorism 4. community safety/development and crime prevention 5. intercommunal collaboration, communication and multi-agency/community joint working. 6. overcoming barriers to diversity and increasing community involvement/engagement 7. Recognising / celebrating Leicester's proud historical heritage of resistance to all forms of extremism and discrimination.

What we'll deliver:

• A yearly festival in Leicester City to promote peace, love and unity.
• A week long of workshops to raise diversity awareness and strengthen community cohesion
• An exhibition to celebrate Leicester's heritage of resistance to all forms of extremism and discrimination.
• Enhance consultation opportunities between local authorities and the community

Why it's a great idea:

a. The immediate benefit will be that the festival will be perceived as being a part of the ongoing determination to show that it is possible to achieve unity, co-existence and common ground through continuing to establish the principles of harmony and unity in Leicester. - through a combination of the joining the performing arts; community leadership and local authority joint working. b. There will be the potential for significantly reduced tensions between communities and diverse groups, as the festival performance line up, community spokes people and support personnel present, will be a direct reflection of our local community, whenever the festival is held. This will be further enhanced through key community awareness workshops and consultation. c. The historic heritage of Leicester's great contribution to resisting all types of extremism and discrimination, will be formerly manifested in an exhibition format, for schools and community education, pride and awareness.

Steps to get it done:

• Applications made for funding and local authority support
• Sourcing and planning staging/PA/lighting and additional logistics
• Review funding application outcomes/status as responses are received.
• Begin to promote the festival and request performers/community leaders/organisations etc. engagement. and participation
• The Leicester peace & love festival is held on 8th July 2023.
• Project evaluation documentation completed and forwarded to stake holders/partners etc.

The annual peace & love festival will be a fantastic opportunity for us all to work together, to maintain, sustain and remain perhaps the most diverse, friendly and safest of cities in the whole of the UK!