Bring your whole family to this year’s Unity Festival, a free summer fun day for the community, created by the community, celebrating the food, fashion and music of Tower Hamlets.
After a fantastic event last year, the Unity Festival returns to the Bromley by Bow Centre for a second summer celebration of culture.
The free event brings together the diverse cultures found in Tower Hamlets, and showcases our unique community spirit.
The Unity Festival is a one-day event, that aims to bring together 1500 people who live, work or go to school in the area, through food, fashion and music.
Caterers from the largest demographic groups found in Tower Hamlets will make traditional dishes, accompanied by recipe cards, which can be taken away for free by all attendees of the event.
Live music, games, and entertainment from different cultures will also be provided by community groups, local schools, organisations and professionals.
The Bromley by Bow Centre has been at the heart of the community for over 30 years. The Centre’s focus is to inspire and empower the most vulnerable people, including those who are socially isolated, facing physical or mental ill health, or are lacking confidence, skills or qualifications. We operate in an area with entrenched economic and social problems and 34% of residents do not have English as their first language.
We have built a strong relationship with the community through family-friendly community facing events, and the life-changing services provided year after year. The Centre is a trusted and well-known place with a 3-acre park, making it the perfect venue for this festival.
For the last few months, event organisers at the Bromley by Bow Centre have been connecting with the local community in order to shape the event. We have held focus groups to inform decision making and ensure a sense of ownership around much of the event organisation including food, entertainment, and how best to ensure the diversity of the local borough is represented.
We have also been working with various community groups, finding ways for them to ‘share their culture’ by producing something artistic which will be unveiled at the festival, including a song produced by young people from Spotlight, a local creative youth space. This outreach project brings together people from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and target those who may not usually be able to participate, such as those who are socially-isolated, or those with physical or learning disabilities.
Our aim is to ensure The Unity Festival benefits everyone in the community regardless of age, gender, nationality or class. People may not always interact with different cultures, but everyone can enjoy the celebration of diversity through food, music and the colourful fashion on show.
Come and learn about different cultures, meet new friends and celebrate our unique community spirit with us this summer.
The Unity Festival
Thursday 26 July, 2pm – 8pm
Bromley by Bow Centre
Free to attend, all ages welcome. The event is accessible to those with additional needs.
Side by side, it’s possible.
