Winchburgh Community Development Trust: Diwali Firework Festival - £5000

We aim to bring together all the opportunities and potential from the new development with the real strengths of the existing community. We initiate and manage projects identified by the Winchburgh community. Our vision is "To take the old shale village of Winchburgh into the future through community engagement, keeping its spirit and history alive, creating sustainable growth and enterprise - a village with heart that offers opportunities for residents and a welcoming destination for visitors". 

Many families of Indian descent have moved into the village of Winchburgh, keen to live in Scotland newest town and taking the opportunities that it offers.  We believe there to be upwards of one hundred households living locally. For this reason, we started an Indian Cultural Group, which we plan in time to branch out to celebrate other cultures (including Nigerian, Polish, Chinese, and Spanish amongst others). The aim of our group is to raise local awareness of the Indian Community and culture through social media, improve inclusiveness and diversity through local workshops such as Indian dancing and cooking, and organise local events to celebrate Indian Festivals. During summer, our Trust ran children's activities that many of the Indian children attended.  We realise the importance of raising awareness in our community on how the village has changed through its developing stages and therefore want to deliver events that will include all generations and will help eradicate racism. The Indian Cultural Group have named a few of the main festivals which they celebrate with the biggest being Diwali.  We would like to bring people together to celebrate this festival of light in the form of a fireworks show.  This will be held at Auldcathie Park where there is plenty of space, and where all the residents can attend.  We will do this in partnership with the Winchburgh Growing Group. During the year, we hope to bring older people, young people and families together through Indian Workshops.  These will consist of teaching dancing, crafts and cooking.