Grants given to welcome and empower multicultural groups in Letchworth

Two community groups have been awarded a total of £3,404* following a meeting of the Letchworth Committee on 14 December.

North Herts African and Caribbean Community was granted £1,424 to help fund a year of free and subsidised events and activities for the whole community to learn about African and Caribbean history and culture, and empower those of Afro-Caribbean heritage to have a voice within local decision-making. Events planned include a Windrush arts and crafts week whereby children and young people will help create an art installation in honour of the HMT Empire Windrush, ‘Mind your Black’, a mental health creative writing and mindfulness programme focused on discussing the effects of racial discrimination, and celebration and research events designed to bring people from different cultures together. The group was also granted the same amount (£1,424) recently from the Hitchin Committee (8 December).

Kava Johnson, Managing Director of North Herts African and Caribbean Community, said: “We are so grateful and very happy to be awarded match funding by the Letchworth Committee. Both the council’s Letchworth and Hitchin Committees have expressed the value that is placed on our work and this project. Sharing our culture and heritage is at the heart of everything we do. We are looking forward to delivering the project to the community and are so glad that we will have some funds to continue to do so in North Herts."

Hong Kong Connect, an umbrella organisation of the North Hertfordshire Minority Ethnic Forum, was granted £1,980 towards their English language course. Language is the biggest barrier for the many new Hong Kong citizens who have settled in Letchworth and the surrounding area. The money will help fund a tutor to help approximately 50 people learn English and help them integrate into the community.

Mohammed Alam, Director of North Hertfordshire Minority Ethnic Forum, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this great news! We are grateful to the Letchworth Area Committee of North Herts Council for awarding this vital grant to our newly formed community group. This will enable us to run weekly language classes for the newly migrant Hongkong people through qualified tutors. This grant will also help us in our capacity building to become an established community organisation and provide a focal point to the new Chinese communities who would like to move and settle in Letchworth.”

Councillor Daniel Allen, Letchworth Committee Chair, said: “North Herts is an inclusive district and we are delighted to help these community groups who are providing a vital service to people from other parts of the world who are settling here. We value every residents’ contribution to the area and encourage them to integrate and take part in the local community.”

*subject to completion of the necessary formalities

More information: Community grants