The Watford Celebration 2011

…for the local business community

Patron

Elected MayorDorothy Thornhill

What do these have in common?

No person or organisation can exist in isolation

Unique way of…

• Engaging

• Bringing together

• Mutual benefit

An annual diversity celebration eventfor Watford and surrounding areas

Unity in Diversity…

• Celebrating Watford’s:– Cultures– Faiths– Talents

Unity in Diversity…

• Backgrounds:– Ethnicities– Beliefs– Ages– Abilities– Walks of life

Unity in Diversity…

• Organisations:– Arts & entertainment– Education– Cultural– Faiths– Voluntary– Charities– Public services– Businesses

Diverse Event Format

Scheduled stage performancesand Celebration Finale

Floor shows and Floor shows and community community activitiesactivities

Stalls & standsStalls & stands

Display – About the eventDisplay – About the event

Multicultural Multicultural refreshmentsrefreshments

Quiet social / Quiet social / networking areanetworking area

Children’s areaChildren’s area

DignatoriesDignatories

Sacred SpaceSacred Space

Identity

Familiar

MCCC 2005

Colosseum 2007

Bank Holiday Monday28th May 2007

WatfordCelebration.orgWatfordCelebration.org

Footage from last year coming up…

Introduce the team…

Event Growth

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

2005 2007 2008 2009 2010

Themed Celebration EventsThemed Celebration Events•Engage ALL sections of local communityEngage ALL sections of local community

Community WorkshopCommunity Workshop•Form shared vision for next themeForm shared vision for next theme •Plan this year’s follow-on projectPlan this year’s follow-on project

Community ProjectCommunity Project•Implement in partnership with local Implement in partnership with local business & authoritiesbusiness & authorities

Follow-on community benefits

Themes

• 2005 : Pakistan Earthquake

• 2007 : Environment & Resources

• 2008 : China Earthquake

• 2010 :– “Show the World” Young People’s Talent

Show (Local radio, Global internet TV)– Haiti Earthquake appeal

Celebration 2011

• May Bank Holiday 30th May 2011

• Colosseum closed for refurbishment

• Multi Cultural Community Centre, St Michael and All Angels & surrounding buildings and grounds

• Charitable status

• Theme: “Working in the Community”

“Working in the Community”Employment & Economic Regeneration

• Helpful stalls:– Debt advice • Agencies • Volunteering

experience opportunities • Timebank • Support groups • Career change counselling • Re-trainers

• Follow-on practical action– Integration • Morale

WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY….

A few words about the theme:

Employment & Economic Regeneration

Issues Ideas…

Economy ↓/↑Employment Switch

Economy/Employment Seesaw

Food & Fuel Prices

Economy/Employment Slide

Big Society

• Government encourages volunteering

• BUT do HR policies look favourably on part-time volunteers?

How does a [voluntary] career break affect employability?

…Ideas

To be developed at Workshop on 18th June 2011

Employment Sharing

Part-time / temporary assignments

Part-time/temporary volunteers

Part-time / temporary assignments

Volunteering

Part-time/temporary regeneration

Build industry of the future

Part-time / temporary assignments

Part-time/temporary regeneration

Build industry of the futureWhat sort of industry?

Part-time / temporary assignments

Part-time/temporary regeneration

Build industry of the futureGreen industry?

Part-time / temporary assignments

Agreed support from…

• James Heslam– Economic Development Officer (Inc.

External Funding)– Hertfordshire County Council

• Jenny Carson– Senior European Policy Officer– East of England Brussels Office

Idea:Redeploy the unemployed to build our new future

• Support local volunteers with…

• part-time / temporary work,so they can…

• apply for substantial earmarked European funding…

• to create green jobs, and…

• start to regenerate our economy

In summary…

Unique way of…

• Engaging

• Bringing together

• Mutual benefit

An annual diversity celebration eventfor Watford and surrounding areas

I invite you to…

• Meet to explore how you might like to be visibly involved in:– Diversity Celebration Event

• MCCC: Bank Holiday Mon 30th May 2011

– Workshop• Holywell Community Centre: 18th June 2011

– Follow-on Employment & Economic Regeneration programme

• 2011-12, lead-up to planned return tonewly refurbished Watford Colosseum

Link to the slides to follow…

A flavour of last year…