The Halls give back
The Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre will host SouthWestFest Antiques – The Alternative Roadshow on Saturday 12 July, as part of its community relations programme. Part of SouthWestFest 2008, the event will take place in The Lindley Hall, in conjunction with the festival organisers and Victoria Partnership Limited. Westminster’s largest community-led event, the festival is a week long-programme of 40 different events, involves 50 local groups, and will be enjoyed by over 8,000 people.
Now in its fifth year, SouthWestFest follows in the footsteps of the old Pimlico Festival and Pimlico Fayre to celebrate the diversity and cohesion of the local community. It aims to promote a closer sense of unity between local people and the organisations working for their benefit.
Acting managing director at the Halls, Maugie Lyons, says: “Investing in our community is a great way to give back to those who have helped support the Halls and Conference Centre. The local residents have always been supportive of the work we do, so lending the Lindley Hall is the least we can do. Helping to build a stronger community is very rewarding and we all have a responsibility to provide support for one another.”
Initiated by the South Westminster Community Network (SWCN), a group of local agencies that meet regularly to help improve services and resources in the area, the festival has strengthened community spirit and given residents the chance to find out about the growing range of services and opportunities available in their area.
Graham Whitlock, festival director, says: “SouthWestFest is enjoyed by thousands of people in SW1, and we are delighted to have forged a new partnership with one of the area’s leading organisations. This is a really strong collaboration because not only do the Halls have an affinity for hosting antique fairs but they also have a really strong presence in the community.”