On 15 and 16 June 2019, the Legal Advice Centre (LAC) took part in the annual Queen Mary Festival of Communities, along with other faculties and external organisations.
Day one of the festival the team were situated in Stepney Green Park. Armed with canvassing materials and games we engaged with the members of the local community, promoting our Legal Advice Centre, raising awareness about image-based sexual abuse through our SPITE Project, and demonstrating how we teach the principles of the Equality Act 2010 through our our I Am You project for primary aged school students.
On day two of the festival, the team engaged children and adults alike to create a mural that represents the community. All attendees were invited to make a handprint and write their name and age, symbolising that we are all different but all belong to one community, Tower Hamlets.
One of our Legal Advice Centre students hosting the activities, Nazmul Hasan, said: “The festival of communities was a great experience to interact with the local community and discuss the extracurricular projects we have at the LAC that are designed to benefit every member of the community, young or old. It was great seeing people of all ages take interest in our activities, showing us that law isn’t just exclusively for certain rich or highly educated demographics. The festival brought out the diversity and interaction that makes this community what it is, and I’m happy that the LAC stall could bring out the best of this.”
Since we last participated in the Festival of Communities, the Legal Advice Centre has grown considerably, offering 1-2-1 legal advice appointments in even more areas of law, and building four additional community projects. This year we were delighted to show our local community the practical side of our mission statement.