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| A
Chinese dragon is one of the attractions in the White City
Walking Carnival |
The
Challenge
An
exciting and fun way to bring people together in a community
is to enter into the spirit of carnival!
For
three years now, in Gloucester's White City area, the local
Community Project has been bringing together people of all ages
to take part in the City's annual walking carnival.
It's
an opportunity to involve people with a wide range of interests
and skills and to bring old and young together with the same
aim - to have fun! It also helps promote the existence of the
group or organisation.
Developing
the idea
Planning
for such an event is complex and demands a great deal of hard
work from a committed 'hard core' of individuals. "It's important
to start planning as early as possible," says Jerry Jenkinson
from White City. "The Carnival is all about involving as many
people of all ages as possible in the Procession, but to do
that safely you have to be really organised." Most Carnivals
or Shows in towns and cities have links to the local council
and in some cases, small amounts of funding are available to
support community groups - but applications need to be in early.
Making
it happen
There
is no formal committee structure at White City, just a group
of individuals keen to get involved - it is a forum to discuss
ideas and put forward suggestions. Costs have been kept to a
minimum by approaching large local companies for donations 'in
kind', for example, soft drinks for all the youngsters involved,
t-shirts and ice cream. For costumes and props, the local scrap
store at City Works was a good source. The Gloucester Carnival
is a walking event, which means most people taking part walk
the course rather than parade on the back of flat bed trucks.
Those taking part have to cope comfortably with the distance
but a support vehicle is available for those who get too tired.
Everyone taking part should also have access to regular drinks.
Keeping it going
Once
the organisation is over, the fun begins and there is no doubt
about it, taking part in a major procession event is a very
exciting affair. Despite the numbers of people who each year
say 'never again' there is no shortage of willing volunteers.
Key
tips
Contact
your local district, borough or city council to find out more
about the annual carnival or show.
- Get any bids for funding in early
- Bring together a local group of 'movers and shakers' to
talkthrough themes and ideas (ideally representing a wide
range of ages)
- Contact large local employers for donations 'in kind'
- Make and keep timetabled checklists which can be re-used
in future years
Contact
White
City Community Project - tel 01452 554412. See also Gloucestershire
Neighbourhood Projects Network
Who
can help?
The
following funding sources and other helpful organisations have
been of particular use to this project. Their details can be
found in the Contacts Directory.
Further information on funding sources is available from Gloucestershire
County Council's Economic Development Unit on 01452 425702.
Funding
sources
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Other useful contacts
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- Gloucester City Council
- Major local employers (support in kind)
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-
District councils - for licences, road closures and
possible funding
-
Gloucestershire County Council - Arts Development Officer
-
Gloucestershire Media
- Gloucestershire
Resource Centre, City Works (Scrap store) for materials
and props
- Gloucestershire
Rural Community Council
- Police
- for approval
- St
John's Ambulance
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