LEICESTERSHIRE CARES "SPORT & SUPPORT DAY"

At Braunstone Leisure Centre, for the "Sport and Support Day" organised by Leicestershire Cares. The event, several weeks in the planning,  has been widened out somewhat, from the original target group of homeless and vulnerably housed people, to encompass people experiencing situations of domestic abuse or violence, asylum seekers and refugees.

Chris Toon, Homelessness Project Officer for Leicestershire Cares (who has been the driving force in this event) asked me to bring the full set of banners in the Council of Faiths display. I thought that might be a little overwhelming, given the nature of the displays that some of the other participants would be able to put up, but he insisted that we show ourselves off in our full regalia.

Councillor Wesley (who has backed this event since it was first mooted) spoke from the stage. Councillor Wan dropped by and Councillor Hall (the Lord Mayor of Leicester) came round the stalls (in mufti).

Other agencies, groups and organisations taking part today include:

• Action for Children Family Intervention Project
• Action Homeless
• Domestic Violence Integrated Response Project
• inTraining
• Kiddy Care Ltd
• Leicester City Council Revenues & Benefits
• Leicester College
• Leicester Community Legal Advice Centre
• Leicester Home Choice
• Leicester Libraries
• Leicestershire Constabulary (Hinckley Road local policing unit)
• Multi Access Centres
• Refugee Action
• Safe (domestic violence support for women)
• Soar Valley Music Centre
• Somaili Development Service
• STAR (Supporting Tenants & Residents)
• SureStart Braunstone
• Welfare Rights Advice
• Zinthia Ganeshpan Trust

The day seems to have been a success, with perhaps as many as 350 people attending. People attending get a free day pass to the leisure and sport facilities here (except for the swimming pool) and First Bus have offered a free return ticket to those travelling here by public transport. Staff and service users from hostels and other facilities take a variety of materials from our stall, such as the set of introductory leaflets.

Claire Glanville, from Action for Children Family Intervention Project, signs me up to take part in a "Diversity Day" that they'll be holding at the end of October. Think I'll bring just the one banner for that one though!