Led by local charity Safety Awareness Glasgow, working in partnership with Elderpark Housing Association and The No1 Befriending Agency, the World Culture Day event was an opportunity to celebrate different cultures and bring together people from differing backgrounds to enjoy music and food.

The showcase was held at a church in the Govan area of Glasgow with guest speakers from a range of organisations and charities as well as special guest, Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister.

The show included performances from two local school choirs, Scotland Ukulele Project, The African Talking Drum, The Glasgow Barons and of course, traditional Scottish bagpipes from The Govan Pipe band, who also welcomed guests on arrival the venue. Over 300 people attended the event to celebrate the area's rich diversity and sampled food from six different stalls including Afghan flavoured rice and haggis! A number of Mears Group employees also provided support on the day using their volunteering hours.

‍

Jamie Lee Ward, Mears Partnership Manager, said:

The location was special as many of our team feel connected to this area of the city. A strong community is one where people feel connected to each other, where there is a sense of belonging and purpose. Culture gives us a shared identity and set of values to rally around, and is constantly evolving, shaped by those who participate in it. It's important that our communities are inclusive and welcoming to all, allowing everyone’s voices to be heard, creating spaces for people to come together and learn from each other.

Amna Alam, Mears Welfare Support Officer added:

I enjoyed listening to music from different cultures as well as trying food from different countries. It was great interacting with the local community and listening to people’s experiences about integrating into the community and what it truly means to be Scottish.