£600 grant to cultural event from Parish Council

Organisers of a major Telford event showcasing the best of African and African-Caribbean cultures appealed to a council for help to fill a ‘huge’ fundraising gap.

CaribFest25 is being held at Hadley Learning Community on Saturday, July 12, this year and promises a “celebration like no other – packed with culture, music, food, and fun for the whole family”.

Heather Reid, the finance officer at Telford African and Afro-Caribbean Resource Centre (TAARC) told Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council that its big events usually attract around 2,000 people.

“We haven’t received the usual large grants to make it happen,” she said. “We have every intention to make it happen one way or another.”

The council, at a meeting this week, was told that the fundraising target was £7,000 and they had secured “a bit over £1,000.” The council has £4,000 in its grant-giving pot for the year.

Registered charity TAARC has held large events over the last eight or nine years and helps spread “awareness of African and Caribbean culture”.

The meeting was told that the food is superb and this year they are planning to run the event from 12pm to 4pm with music, DJs and dances.

“It is all about unity in an increasingly diverse community,” said Ms Reid.

“It is not just a black event, people come from Wolverhampton and beyond. It makes people who are traditionally hard to reach more accessible.

“It is a huge shortfall and we will beg and borrow but we won’t steal.

“Anything that can be allocated to us will be gratefully received as every little helps.”

The meeting heard that TAARC does not spend on advertising, apart from a couple of banners, and has around 50 volunteers who help out. They find that social media generates a large turnout of people.

Councillor Jordan Keeble (Labour, Apley Castle Ward) proposed giving the cause £500.

But the meeting heard that West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner had already given £600, so they increased the amount to match that.

Councillors voted unanimously to contribute £600 to the event.