Stand Up for Diversity Shoeburyness

An afternoon of three-minute mini-talks and short shout-outs, which brought together those championing diversity in Shoeburyness.

In April we met at the Cart & Wagon Shed to explore heritage, community and hospitality, and how those in the area are working to capture, celebrate and preserve stories around ‘people and place’ for future generations. People came along to make new connections, find out what’s happening in the area, and to collectively celebrate diverse voices involved in the arts and in our communities.

As part of the day, David Hadjicostas from the Cart & Wagon Shed led a guided heritage walk around Shoeburyness.

Speakers included Rav Singh from A little History of the Sikhs, who compered the event; Nirmal Gupta MBE, Chair and trustee of the Essex Asian Women’s Association; Bob Craven, a retired policeman who runs a mental health support group at the Cart & Wagon Shed; Chris Hobbs, a retired soldier who was stationed in the area; Kwesi Johnson from the Cultural Assembly; Shoeburyness based artist Steve Lawes; and Anna Ostler from Trust Links, an independent charity for mental health, wellbeing and the environment. We also welcomed shout-outs from Warren Harper, the new Director of Metal Southend, and Tricia Cowdrey from East Beach Residents Association.

This event was organised by Essex Cultural Diversity Project in partnership with Cart & Wagon Shed, run by Shoebury Coastal Community Interest Company. The Stand Up for Diversity series of events was first initiated in close partnership with Essex Book Festival in 2016.