Kingston residents came together last week for two major community events, where a moving commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day and a colourful celebration of Tamil Heritage Month demonstrated the borough's recently launched Inclusive Kingston Strategy in action.

On Sunday, 25 January, communities from across the borough gathered at Glenmore House in Surbiton to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides around the world.

The occasion, hosted by Kingston Faith and Belief Forum, provided a space for guests to reflect on the lessons of history and consider how to build a safer, fairer future for all.

The event featured several guest speakers, most notably Holocaust survivor Peter Lantos BEM FMedSci.

Attendees also experienced moving performances by the Kingston Liberal Synagogue Choir and the Children's Cheder Choir, alongside accordion melodies by Rabbi Yechezkel Mandelbaum.

The commemoration concluded with a candle-lighting ceremony, a performance of the prayer 'El Malei Rachamim' by Vince Daly, Kingston Liberal Synagogue, and a collective minute of silence.

At the event, Chair of Kingston Faith and Belief Forum, Reverend Joe Moffat, All Saints Church, said: "When we gathered here last year, we committed ourselves to a year of active solidarity - and I am pleased to say we have turned that promise into practice.

"As a forum, we have hosted numerous events, such as our Inter Faith Walk in November, that involved visiting six places of worship, and we have affirmed our shared values by signing up to the Hate Crime Community Pledge.

"We have listened to and learnt from one another, not shying away from the difficult topics of our day.

"As we face the complexities of our current times, we must be the bridge for those who feel vulnerable and hold even tighter to one another, ensuring that no community feels they are standing alone.

"Meanwhile, the spirit of celebration took over New Malden as the Kingston Tamil Heritage Group hosted a spectacular Tamil Heritage and Harvest Festival at Richard Challoner School, following grant funding provided by Kingston Council's New and Old Malden neighbourhood committee."

Marking Tamil Heritage Month, the free, family-friendly event opened with a traditional parade at the school's main entrance and was followed with cultural performances showcasing the richness of Tamil traditions and community displays highlighting the history and contributions of the Tamil diaspora.

These events reflect the ambitions detailed in the council's recently launched Inclusive Kingston Strategy, as the council says it looks "to ensure Kingston is a place where everyone feels safe, valued, and heard, through tackling inequality and celebrating diversity".

Leader of Kingston Council, Councillor Andreas Kirsch, said: "I was honoured to attend both the poignant Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration and the vibrant Tamil Harvest Festival, which together showcased the incredible unity and diversity of our borough.

"These events are a testament to our Inclusive Kingston Strategy, as we work alongside partners like the Kingston Faith and Belief Forum and the Kingston Tamil Heritage Group to build a borough where every resident feels safe, valued, and heard.

"As we look toward the future, the council remains committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect and belonging, ensuring that the spirit of unity shown at Glenmore House and Richard Challoner School continues to thrive across the entire borough."