FAMILIES from across Weymouth and Portland are being invited to join the mayor and celebrate global goodwill and the areas different cultures.

An event is being hosted by Mayor of Weymouth and Portland to celebrate the borough’s diverse community.

Cllr James is inviting families from a range of cultures, religions and backgrounds from across the borough to attend a Mayoral reception at the council’s North Quay offices on Thursday, December 10.

The evening event will provide people from different backgrounds to have an opportunity to meet and share experiences of life in the borough and talk about how they celebrate their own special events and religious occasions.

Attendees will be able to enjoy Christmas themed refreshments provided by the mayor and guests will also be invited to bring along a national dish from their background or culture to help enhance the sharing experience further.

Cllr James, who is also the borough council’s briefholder for social inclusion said she feels it will be fascinating to share experiences.

She said: “Weymouth and Portland is a welcoming place with many different people from a range of backgrounds, and I wanted to celebrate what it means for us all to live and work together as one community.

“It would be fascinating to share our experiences of how Christmas is celebrated in different countries, or perhaps how cultures which don’t celebrate Christmas mark their own special times."

As well as this, Cllr James wants people with a background in the borough to come along as well.

She said: “It would be great to have some families who have deep roots in the area come along too so we can all share old and new experiences of our special little piece of the world.”

Representatives from organisations like the South West Dorset Multi-Cultural Network and the Dorset Race Equality Council will also be invited to attend the reception.

Numbers for the event are limited due to capacity so the event is invitation only.

If you would like to register an interest in attending, get in touch with civicoffice@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk

Entries for the mayor’s Christmas card competition have now closed.

The winning designs by local children will now go on sale in the run up to Christmas to raise money for Dementia Action Alliance and LV Streetwise.

CONTACT ME:

t: 01305 830982

e: alex.peace@dorsetecho.co.uk

twitter: @DorsetEchoAlex