Come What May: Local children enjoy music, campaigners unite at Viraj Mendis event

The second day of our Come What May community gathering got off to a flying start with 'Pick and Mix: a magical encounter with music and movement'. Selected local schools had been invited to gather together and encounter three musical inputs: brass instruments with the Royal Northern College of Music, drumming with Drumroots and Gospel singing with Voices Beyond. During the event, the Performers Playground also led the children in some dance and improvisation to build their confidence.

Local family-friendly comedian, Tony Vino, was invited to come along and help the children enjoy the experience and to make them laugh. 90 children from St Philips Primary School, Rolls Crescent Primary School, and St Alphonsus RC Primary School all took part in the event, some of them trying instruments for the first time and others commenting on how much they learnt about music.

It was a joyful event with lots of laughter and play. Hopefully it gave the children a taste of what is possible!

*Credit: Rachel Bywater*
*Visitors participate in the event 'Perspectives: history, rights and justice through an alternative lens' at Ascension Church in which an interview with campaigner Viraj Mendis was shown, May 2023*

On Friday evening we hosted the lively and energetic 'Perspectives: history rights and justice through an alternative lens', an evening of talks, music and poetry to fuel the struggle for justice and satisfy the curious. Over 200 attended the event, which explored Hulme’s history defending the rights of the vulnerable.

*Credit: Rachel Bywater*
Archival material about the Viraj Mendis campaign was provided by the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre at the event 'Perspectives: history, rights and justice through an alternative lens' at Ascension Church, May 2023

*Credit: Rachel Bywater*
Dr Kerry Pimblott speaks during the event 'Perspectives: history, rights and justice through an alternative lens' at Ascension Church in which an interview with campaigner Viraj Mendis was shown, May 2023

*Credit: Rachel Bywater*
*Campaigners' Corner at the event 'Perspectives: history, rights and justice through an alternative lens' at Ascension Church in which an interview with campaigner Viraj Mendis was shown, May 2023*

The audience were captivated by an interview with campaigner Viraj Mendis which was shown. Viraj sought asylum in Ascension Church Hulme whilst a student in the 1980s before eventual deportation. Christxpher Oliver spoke and performed from his current work with the ‘Burning Work/Windrush Defenders Legal’ and Young Identity poet Maya Chowdhury performed.

*Credit: Rachel Bywater*
*The choir sing at the event 'Perspectives: history, rights and justice through an alternative lens' at Ascension Church in which an interview with campaigner Viraj Mendis was shown, May 2023*

Participants also enjoyed browsing the archival material about the Viraj Mendis campaign, provided by the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre. They also had the chance to mingle at Campaigners’ Corner where a number of organsations had set up stalls to display their work and give people an opportunity to find out more.

Afterwards there was 'archaic funk fables and soul migrations' in a live music set by Manchester band, Caulbearers and food from local restaurant, Kim’s Kitchen.

It was a fantastic evening with an electric atmosphere.

People from across the country and of all ages and backgrounds were chatting, connecting, hatching new ideas and celebrating campaign successes.

It was exciting to be part of bringing such a range of people together at Ascension.

Come What May: Local children enjoy music, campaigners unite at Viraj Mendis event

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