FESTIVAL; Increase the Peace Festival

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS on Eventbrite, or purchase at The Black Cherry & other outlets

Increase the Peace is a community festival, now in its 4th successful year. The idea was born from the work community creative, Claire Armstrong does at Bournemouth & Poole College teaching ESOL to second language learners, including separated children seeking asylum and adult learners.

Because of these people’s journeys and perspective they have given her, she decided to create an event to envelope peace and promote inclusivity, where diverse groups from Dorset can connect and enjoy music, spoken word and art, whilst having fun in the sun (fingers crossed). Her main drive is to promote cross-cultural understanding and acceptance of others. Claire truly believes that if we take time to appreciate other human stories then we can reduce conflict and therefore create more peace.

Increase the Peace has become an umbrella project over the last 18 months. They work with other community groups, organise and support local events including carol singing, football matches, theatre groups and food stalls with the charities they support. Many of the refugees Claire has taught are now working or studying locally and have integrated successfully into our beautiful neighbourhood.

On the day and leading up to the festival, artists, musicians, therapists, local businesses and volunteers involved offer their time and talent to raise money for Hope for Food, Hope & More and The International Care Network (ICN). All 3 charities are local and they see the money donated reaching the hands of those who need it.

Hope for Food is a registered charity which was set up in 2014. It is based in Bournemouth and run entirely by volunteers. The charity was founded with the aim of providing life's essentials, on a day-to-day basis, to people in need of help in the local area.

The services provided by ICN for refugees and asylum seekers include; ESOL (English) classes (with creche for the women only classes), immigration and non-immigration advice, homework clubs, regular activities, holiday outings and ongoing support.

Hope & More is a charity offering supported accommodation for a variety of needs. They organise bike schemes, ruck sack appeals and offer a range of health & wellbeing activities for people in recovery.

The Increase the Peace community believes we should welcome a stranger with an open heart and an open mind, and by working together to stop war and grow communities, we can offer love and kindness that makes a difference. It is through dialogue and building rapport that problems are solved and differences understood.