The Mix Community Festival in Shaw Village Centre, West Swindon

The Mix Community Festival attracted well over 500 people and included stalls from a wide range of community groups.  Despite weather forecasts predicting a steady drizzle of rain, the rain held off and there were even some sunny intervals!  A total of 11 community groups had stalls and stands, and welcomed the opportunity to take part in such a community-based event.  There were workshops on everything from graffiti art to puppetry, from fashion to circus skills.  Collective performed two sets, and there were puppet shows, dance and music from the BaseSaturday Club and holiday workshops.  In the evening 85 people came to watch "The Story So Far", performed by the Lacey Theatre Company.  And it all went ahead despite having to adjust the programme and facilities to accomodate a lack of funding by previous sponsors.

ncounter's Claire Camm, who drove much of the organisation of the event with others from West Swindon churches, said it was an incredible experience. "The weather was amazing - it could have been so much worse! Everyone pulled together really well, and the venue was ideal. The mix of activities worked well, and we had several parents who said they couldn't drag their kids away!"