Join your community at the All In Ideas Festival

You can discover the inspiring ways local residents have joined forces to make a difference in their communities at an exciting new festival.

The All In Ideas Festival takes place at Colchester’s Firstsite arts venue on Saturday, 22 April between 12.30pm and 4pm.

At the event, organised by Eastlight Community Homes, visitors can:

• Discover how local residents are taking on the big issues affecting their communities through All In, Eastlight’s ground-breaking community programme
• Sample food and drink, take part in family-friendly arts activities and enjoy some dazzling street entertainment
• Meet local organisations doing amazing work in Essex and discover the opportunities available for you to help make your community an even better place to call home.

The event is free and you can drop in at any point during the afternoon. If you do plan on coming, please let us know by clicking on this short form and completing it.

During the afternoon, visitors can discover how they can get involved with the work of four teams of local residents who are taking part in All In.

The All In Community Teams have spent the last 10 months working with thousands of residents to create community-led solutions to major social issues – from the cost-of-living crisis in Colchester to mental wellbeing in Braintree.

Visitors will also get to meet inspiring local organisations about the ways they are tackling the big issues affecting so many.

And if residents have their own ideas for community projects that could improve lives locally, they can find out how they can meet like-minded residents and access grants to make these happen through the All In Community Alliances.

Throughout the afternoon there will be fun for all the family, including arts and crafts, creative activities and food and drink stalls.

Firstsite will be open as usual, with visitors able to enjoy its range of activities and exhibitions including Big Women, curated by Sarah Lucas.

James Green, Eastlight’s Community Empowerment Director, said: “The All In Community Festival is a brilliant opportunity to discover the amazing things local people are doing to support each other across our communities.

“We’re inviting anyone who wants to make a difference to come to Firstsite and get involved with our All In Community Teams and Alliances as well as some of the local organisations doing inspiring work in Essex.

“There will also be plenty of fun on offer for the whole family, from creative crafts to tasty food and drink.”