I WOULD like to congratulate on behalf of Trowbridge Cultural Festival of Food, Hayley Bell and the staff of Active Trowbridge for putting on a fantastic Play Day event on July 16.

I would also like to highlight some of the other amazing engagements and co-operation taking place in Trowbridge. This is unique in that a number of faith and non faith groups came together to make a contribution to the life of Trowbridge.

Trowbridge Cultural Festival of Food (TCFF) organised a food court as part of Play Day, with support from Tesco, TCAF, Active Trowbridge and Trowbridge Area Board. TCFF is unique in that it is made up of a number of groups including West Wiltshire Multi Faith Forum, Trowbridge Mosque, the Polish Catholic Church, St James Church and Trowbridge tenants and residents associations.

The main goal of TCFF is to publicise diverse cultures to others so we can bridge the gap between the locals and people from other ethnicities.

In 2015 a dialogue between Trowbridge Mosque and Trowbridge tenants and residents association initiated the launch of TCFF. This was followed by a successful event in September 2015. We were approached by Hayley to be part of the Play Day.

The food court provided an opportunity to visitors to taste food from 12 different countries. The cultural displays of books, information and photos generated conversations. It was also reassuring how many people were aware of Muslim women in public life, which is counter to what the media appears to portray in these current testing times.

The activities included a henna artist, facepainting, morris dancing by a local Holt group called Bell’s Angel, Trowbridge Song Choir, Dancing Flavours, Wafaa and her Belły Dancers, Latin American dancers, and a spinning demonstration. Our thanks to all performers who gave their time.

Funds raised through sale of food went to a number of stallholders’ chosen charities.

The event was funded by Trowbridge Area Board, Trowbridge Town Council and all groups paid for much of the printing and laminating as well as buying specialist ingredients required for ethnic food. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all partners and volunteers for their vital contributions towards the success of the day.

Farzana Saker, Chair TCFF