Richard Luscombe Students and staff at Ivybridge Community College recently celebrated multiculturalism and diversity at the third annual Culture Fest, a key event hosted by Argyle Community Trust in collaboration with local partners.
Culture Fest was initially delivered in 2023 when Ivybridge Community College approached the Trust to support their response to racially motivated incidents. Together, the partners set out the ambition of empowering young people with lived experience of discrimination to create a legacy of anti-racist behaviour change. The day focused on sharing resources and educating on identity, bias, and privilege driven by personal stories that resonated deeply with attendees.
As part of our commitment to youth voice and equality, diversity, and inclusion, Community Programmes Lead Kadus Smith worked with the schools Youth Council to create Culture Fest – a celebration of identity that educated students on race and respect.
Kadus adds: “It is important to celebrate and educate on culture because culture makes up our society. I think it’s especially important in places where we may not see a lot of visible diversity. There are a lot of stories that have been untold, and a lot of people that don’t feel represented or understood.
“The more we educate and share these stories, the wider representation of multiculturalism becomes – what it actually means, not just in the UK but more specifically in Plymouth, Devon, and Cornwall. It provides young people with an opportunity to be seen, heard, and understood.”
The Trust and College collaborated with valued partners the Trust have had the privilege of working with for many years, including Plymouth and District Racial Equality Council, Plymouth City Council, Dom Spencer, and the student council and staff of Ivybridge Community College.
A proud Kadus was delighted with the outcome: “The school engaged really well. Thanks to the help of Darby Ball who has been an advocate for continuing this type of work.
“The Club and the Trust represent the community. The power of the badge is really important, as is the power of collaboration.”
Ivybridge Community College Student, Jasmine Rolfe, who participated in the first event in Year 11 and this year in Year 13, shared her view: “I think Culture Fest is so important, to learn about different cultures and different experiences.
“The key message is to respect everyone. To respect all cultures, everyone from different backgrounds. It’s all about respect. If you start with respect, you really can’t go wrong.”
This work embodies our commitment to equality and representation. Through our extensive community programmes and dedicated EDI steering group, we seek to create an inclusive society for all.
For more information on our workshops, Culture Week, and how we support young people to drive strategic change, contact kadus.smith@pafc.co.uk.
