Curry in the Park - Radford Recreation Ground

Radford Recreation Ground is located in an area of high-density student housing. In October of every year, just after students have moved in, the Radford and Park Nottingham City Councillors hold a community cohesion event to bring together this diverse community.

The big attraction is the delicious, authentic homemade curry which attendees are served free of charge. In the past, student groups such as BlowSoc have performed to entertain the crowds.

United through good food and music, students and long-term residents mingle together and enjoy an afternoon in the park.

Community Chest funding, 2022: £500

ONE Kegworth - Welcome Fair Sutton Bonington

Being situated so close to University Park Campus, Dunkirk is home to hundreds of students, as well as long-term residents. The local community centre holds an open tea afternoon every year where the whole community is invited to sample food from around the globe.

Malaysian Soc and Cake Soc have previously provided free food samples, while Sustainability Soc have delivered a craft workshop for kids. Musicality Soc have even performed songs from their shows to keep everyone entertained, and the SU Volunteer Centre has supported the event by recruiting general helpers to serve the tea and coffee.

This event is always well attended and loved by students and the wider community every year.

Community Chest Funding, 2023: £315

One Kegworth - Kegworth Village

Kegworth in North West Leicestershire is a popular place to live with University of Nottingham students studying at the nearby Sutton Bonington Campus. There are approximately 800 students living in Kegworth.

One Kegworth was founded in 2016 when a group of like-minded people from the community joined each other with a vision of bringing all the events that happen in Kegworth together for one big weekend event.

The first event consisted of a wide range of activities, events, demonstrations, celebrations and more. The driving force for this exciting weekend was to bring the community together and showcase the wide range of activities available in the village.

In 2017, One Kegworth won the Leicestershire and Rutland Rural Achievement Award for Best Community Engagement initiative. We’re very proud that Nottingham students make such a strong contribution to the community and even sit on the One Kegworth Committee.

The One Kegworth events have received grants of up to £500 from the Community Chest fund.

Malaysian Festival, Beeston

Beeston is popular with our students as they value living in a vibrant and diverse community, located very close to University Park campus. A group of international students add to this community spirit by hosting the annual Malaysian Festival. Held by the Malaysian Society, it offers the Beeston community the chance to experience everything that is unique about Malaysian culture – from its food and handicrafts to games and traditional dances.

Along one side of Beeston Square, gazebos shelter trestle tables full of traditional Malaysian games and handicrafts, while at the very centre of the hubbub, a wide space is cordoned off for traditional dancing – each routine painstakingly choreographed by one of the members of the organising committee.

The event is always well attended by local residents and students alike with the highlight being the chance to sample delicious food from the cooking show and the various food vendors catering for the event

Community Chest Funding, 2019: £500

 

Building a community - Charles, Lawley and Varden Avenues

The student and non-student residents of Charles, Lawley and Varden Avenues in Lenton Abbey have enjoyed the support of Community Chest funding from the University of Nottingham for a number of years. The Neighbourhood Watch group is led by local resident Steve Hadfield, now in his 29th year as coordinator, who supports residents against becoming victims of crime and reckons the best way to do this is by working together as a community.

As soon as new residents move in, the group post a welcome letter through the letterbox. This contains helpful information about wheelie bins, buses, post boxes and parking. It also contains contact details for someone they can approach for help if they need it.

Not content with just being a useful point of contact, Steve organises popular community events such as Halloween parties, scarecrow day, quiz nights and street parties. The group has had 60 people attend the Halloween event, with some Chinese students bringing homemade food which was a real talking point. All events have involved students and have helped them feel that they belong to a community.

Community Chest Funding, 2020: £300