People's festival launches in Bognor this weekend

It has been organised by the CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) Arunwide.

Iryna Smith, a CVS expanding communities project worker, said the week was important to bring together everyone who had made their home in the Arun district.

"The Arun community is really diverse. It's very important to know that you belong to the overall community as well as to all the smaller communities that exist," she stated.

"The week is all about everyone belonging in the community, enjoying being part of the community and feeling that they belong."

To emphasise the point, the publicity booklet for the week is being printed in four languages '“ Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Russian '“ as well as English.

Iryna, who has lived in Bognor for 13 years, is also a member of the week's steering committee.

She said the overall aim was to unite people and have fun at the same time.

"We want to get as many people as we can to take from different communities, different faiths and different backgrounds as well as break down the language barrier," she said.

The week's first event around Bognor is the latest Hobbs Farm Music Festival in Yapton with 15 live acts between 5pm tomorrowand 4pm on Sunday.

Saturday sees an English classes registration day, complete with free 15-minute English lessons, from 10.30am-3.30pm at The Hub community centre on Queensway.

Later that day, the 24 Hour Musical! reaches its climax at 7.30pm at the Regis Centre when the cast and crew will stage a well-known play only a day after finding out its name.

The fun continues on Sunday at the first Hell and High Water beach festival in front of the Regis Centre. From midday to 5pm, a King Canute jigsaw puzzle contest, a boat race and a duck race will provide plenty of entertainment for all ages.

CVS-Arunwide is hosting a community lunch at 12.30pm-2pm next Tuesday at Climping Village Hall. The focus will be on health and wellbeing, with a small charge for the food.

A workshop about housing and council tax benefits will take place between 6pm and 8pm next Wednesday at Bognor Regis Town Hall.

Next Thursday sees four events around the town.

From 2pm to 4pm, is an open afternoon at St Mary's Catholic Primary School on Glamis Street.

Next comes a Macmillan coffee fundraiser from 2.30pm-3.45pm at South Bersted School in Church Lane.

The Tree House children and family centre is hosting a family barbecue on Bersted Green from 4pm-8pm and, finally, the opening night of Nunsense: The Funny Nunny Story starts at 7.30pm at the Regis Centre.

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