Mela magic all set for the summer 

Swindon Mela celebrates funding success 

 

The seventh annual Swindon Mela will once again be taking place this summer, after receiving funding to support this years event from a major foundation.

The Community Development Foundation, ‘Faiths in Action’ grant, which allows voluntary and third sector organisations to apply for funds that help raise the positive identity of faith & culture in today’s society have helped fund this year's festival.

The funding for work over two years will enable South Asian community groups in Swindon to participate in the Mela and to document the work.

“With this backing our work will be able to offer some great cultural activities at this year's Mela,” commented Sushma Patel Vice Chair of Swindon Mela.

“The Turban and Sari tying workshops offered by Swindon’s Sikh Temple & Hindu Samaj have always been popular with our audience, but we will be able to expand what we have to offer this year.

"We will also be working closely with the Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Goan & Tamil Associations. We are all very excited”

 

The grant has really helped the organisation, but the fundraising team are still hard at work trying to raise all the money for this year’s event, and there is still some way to go!

“Being one of the biggest community festivals in the town, and the biggest Mela in the South West, we can offer local businesses a way to really engage with people of the town and indeed the region," said Mr Rokib Ali, a member of the Mela’s fundraising group and owner of The Biplob restaurant in Old Town.

"We have a great product and a great profile and we welcome enquiries from local businesses regarding sponsorship and advertising opportunities”

 

This year's festival will take place on the 25 July 2009 at the Town Gardens.

 

For more information please visit the Mela website via the link below.