By Paul McGuirk  

Cumbrians will celebrate diversity when Carlisle Unity festival returns to the city this July.  

Saturday 14 July will mark the third annual Carlisle Unity Festival, an event designed to promote integration, community cohesion and good relations. To celebrate everything residents of the great border city have in common. 

The festival will be held within the city centre and promises to bring together a variety of community groups, as well as public and private sector organisations who work to share knowledge and advice with the public in a relaxed, informal and welcoming environment.  

Entertainment and refreshments will be available in various establishments around the city which will be taking part in the festival in conjunction with AWAZ Cumbria, Carlisle One Word Centre, Bespoke Minds and OpShops. 

Last year over 20 different organisations were involved with activities throughout Carlisle. These  included cultural workshops, poetry recitals, music, film screenings, information sessions and fundraisers with raffle tickets giving attendees the chance to win café and restaurant vouchers. 

A spokesperson for AWAZ Cumbria, the voice of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in the county, stated that the event is about “tackling prejudice, promoting understanding and celebrating the diversity of people and cultures in Carlisle.” 

Carlisle Unity Festival has been designed to encourage participation, inclusion and active citizenship through community action. In addition to helping empower the voices of marginalised groups, the activities undertaken by organisations working to increase confidence and trust within participants will be highlighted. This will ultimately help to promote Carlisle as a welcoming place for all who want to visit, live, work, study or conduct business in the city. 

While the details of this year’s event are yet to be finalised, the public can expect a free event encompassing; information stalls, family entertainment, a coffee morning, raffle and exhibitions and evening shows.  

To keep up to date with this year’s Carlisle Unity Festival and to find out how you can get involved with volunteering head to facebook.com/carlisleunityfestival.  

For more information about AWAZ Cumbria and their work in standing up against intolerant attitudes and racial prejudices, visit awaz.info.  

Photography by David Ambridge