GETTING marginalised women into work, helping new migrants integrate into their communities and improving opportunities for those wishing to learn English are among the plans unveiled in the Integrated Communities Action Plan, published today (9).
Communities Secretary, James Brokenshire MP, outlined the government’s vision of the Integrated Communities Strategy Green Paper that will lead to the creation of integrated communities where people, irrespective of their background, can live and work based on shared rights, responsibilities and opportunities.
The plan is backed by £50 million of funding from Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government and additional funding from other government departments.
Brokenshire said: “Our new action plan charts a course for how we will engage and work with communities to bring people together in recognition that there is more that binds than divides us. And as we embark on a new future outside the European Union, we need to ensure that everyone, whatever their background, has access to the same opportunities.”
The Government will take 70 actions, which includes collaborating with civil society to support refugees integrate in the UK, and reaffirm support for faith communities and empower faith leaders with the confidence to meet the needs of their congregations.
The Government has also been working in partnership with five Integration Areas (Blackburn with Darwen; Bradford; Peterborough; Walsall and Waltham Forest) to develop local integration plans, as integration challenges are not uniform throughout the country.
Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.
Creating cultural belonging
Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.
Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.
Empowerment through experience
I couldn't talk about the festivals we celebrate, the type of Indian food we have, and also the clothes we wear for special occasions," Patel told BBC."I felt that I couldn't express my individuality, which in turn affected my confidence and self-worth." She realised that lack of cultural belonging represented an untapped market.
The business model centres on experiential events that blend tradition with social connection. The first workshop held on September (20) focused on bento cake decorating, a trendy format paired with south Asian networking. Patel aims for attendees to "feel empowered and inspired."
With South Asian Heritage Month highlighting the importance of cultural spaces, The Empowered Desi positions itself at the intersection of community building and commercial viability. Patel's betting that others share her experience and are willing to pay for a sense of belonging.
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