A MULTICULTURAL event held in Basingstoke has received a funding boost thanks to a project celebrating the Windrush generation.

Basingstoke World Party, which is held is Eastrop Park, celebrates the different cultures which live side-by-side in the borough.

Now in its ninth year, organisers of the event, the Basingstoke Multicultural Forum, have received additional funding for the day, thanks to the Windrush Day Grant.

The scheme has distributed £500,000 to events which recognise and honour the legacy of those who stepped ashore at Tilbury Docks more than 70 years ago.

The main stage of Basingstoke World Party, held on Saturday, 29 June will feature more than 20 performers including music, dance and other artistic performances representing a wide variety of cultures across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.

The Windrush Day grant will be used to organise a series of activities including an exhibition, and workshops in schools to create awareness about the Windrush Generation.

The grant was awarded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) to a consortium of three community groups - Basingstoke Multicultural Forum (BMF), Basingstoke Caribbean Society and Friends (BCSF) and Basingstoke African Caribbean Catholic Association (BACCA).

Toju Ogbe, spokesperson for Basingstoke Multicultural Forum, said: “We are delighted to have received funding from the Windrush Day Grant to organise a Windrush-themed World Party this year.

“World Party is about showcasing and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the diverse communities that live in Basingstoke and it offers a great platform to tell the Windrush Generation story.”

For more information about this year’s World Party event or on the work of the multicultural forum, go to bmforum.org.uk.