MCFB is delighted to have been successful in winning £3,450 from the Aviva Community Fund for our 'Time for Togetherness' project. The money will be used to help fund 3 multicultural ceilidhs and a summer barbecue in 2018. It will provide a chance for 100 children and parents to meet new people and make friends and will be an important and helpful stepping stone towards social inclusion and improved life chances.

Steve Gowenlock, MCFB Chief Executive, said: "This is fantastic news! These family gatherings have become so much part of our core work as they provide opportunities for parents to be actively involved in the planning and delivery of events. The ceilidhs provide opportunities for cultural exchange and bring together children and famlies from diverse communities. Thank you everyone who voted for us".

The application to the Aviva Community Fund was made at the end of 2017 and was borne out of a series of piloted events in 2017, which included two multicultural ceilidhs in Leith, co-organized by MCFB and Citizen Curator, who provided the ceilidh music for the event. The ceilidhs were attended by families receiving support from various MCFB projects and were from diverse backgrounds, such as Poland, Romania, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, China, Sudan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Iraq and Scotland.

There are already plans for the first of the 2018 ceilidhs, which will take place on the 13th February at South Leith Parish Church during the school half term holidays. There will be a Chinese theme to the event to coincide with the Chinese New Year and there will be plenty of food as well as dancing. The music will be provided by the Tinderbox Orchestra.