Published: 04 December 2024

From: Community

Yesterday, Mayor of ºù«ÍÞapp, Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah, welcomed the Aldermen of ºù«ÍÞapp Borough Council to sign the unity pledge. Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn and Alderman Colin Lloyd joined the Mayor to add their signatures to further signify the unity of ºù«ÍÞapp. 

The unity pledge celebrates the diversity and inclusivity of ºù«ÍÞapp and was signed by community leaders, council members and other key representatives from across the local community last month at the first unity event. 

The November event opened with a speech from Councillor Michael Jones (Leader of ºù«ÍÞapp Borough Council), followed by speeches from Councillor Yasmin Khan (Cabinet member for Public Protection), the Mayor of ºù«ÍÞapp, Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah, Councillor Duncan Crow (Leader of the opposition) and ºù«ÍÞapp’s MP Peter Lamb. Community leaders also spoke at the event including representatives from the Hindu faith, Christian faith and Muslim faith, as well as Marilyn Mansfield-Clark from Diverse ºù«ÍÞapp, Paul Taylor-Burr from ºù«ÍÞapp Campaign Against Racism and Youth Mayor, Elijah Norton.

Compered by Chris Oxlade from the ºù«ÍÞapp Town Centre BID, the November event also featured fantastic performances from Tamil Learning Centre ºù«ÍÞapp dance group, Ukraine soloist Sofia and DMT school musical theatre group.

It was my pleasure to welcome Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn and Alderman Colin Lloyd to the parlour today. I am delighted that their signatures have been added to the unity pledge – further demonstrating our commitment to celebrating the diversity of ºù«ÍÞapp. This unity pledge means so much to all those in our community and I look forward to it being displayed in the Town Hall so that future generations have the opportunity to understand its significance.

Councillor Sharmila Sivarajah

Mayor

ºù«ÍÞapp

I was very pleased to hear of this initiative by the council and other community leaders. One of ºù«ÍÞapp’s greatest strengths lies in its longstanding diversity and inclusivity and I’m delighted to join in signing the unity pledge.

Alderman Colin Lloyd

As former Mayor of ºù«ÍÞapp, I have always maintained that ºù«ÍÞapp has been a fine example in Britain of a multicultural society where our community have worked together to develop a prosperous culturally and compassionate society. And, of course, ºù«ÍÞapp’s most striking feature is the diversity of its residents - each ethnic group enriches the cultural life of this wonderful town as we see here today.

Alderman Councillor Brian Quinn

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