Spicy curries, live music, dazzling traditional costumes and Guide Dogs

This summer, we’re out and about at Mela festivals across the UK, as part of our work to reach more people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities with our services.

A big thank you to those volunteers who have played a part in our success so far – we hope you’re finding it a positive learning experience. And there are plenty more opportunities to get involved!

Melas are lively and colourful celebrations of Asian culture, which tend to attract a cosmopolitan mix of communities.

In May, we attended the Baishakhi Mela on London’s Brick Lane. There – amid dancers, food stalls and even a giant paper Bengali tiger – we talked to visitors about how guide dogs change people’s lives, and how we can tailor services to individuals’ needs, whatever their cultural background.

Next, we’ll be heading to:

Leicester Belgrave Mela:  12 July   www.leicester-mela.co.uk

Middlesbrough Mela:  19 July   www.boromela.co.uk

Birmingham Mela:  19 July   0121 303 3008

Birmingham Carnival:  2 August   www.birmingham.gov.uk/carnival

Edinburgh Mela:  8/9 August   www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk

London Mela:  16 August   www.londonmela.org

Belfast Mela:  30 August   www.belfastmela.org.uk

Graham Kensett, Guide Dogs’ National Project Manager, said: “Our life-changing services are available to everyone, but they are not widely used by people with sight loss from BME communities.

“We’re going into the heart of these communities to raise awareness of how we help people, and learn how we can make our services more accessible to people from different backgrounds.”

We have been encouraged by the growing acceptance of guide dogs by the Muslim community. Last year we worked with the Muslim Council of Britain to bring about a historic Fatwa allowing a Muslim blind person to keep a guide dog and take it to the mosque for prayers.

Young Mahomed-Abraar Khatri became the first UK guide dog owner to take his guide dog into a mosque. Click on this link to see a video about Mahomed-Abraar and his guide dog, Vargo.

There is still work to be done, though: 80 per cent of visitors to the Baishakhi Mela had never heard of Guide Dogs, so we’re seeking volunteers who can help us promote our work in BME communities and expand our knowledge and experience.

If you would like to help or find out more about what’s involved, call Sian Caine on 07500 993176 or Graham Kensett on 07788 750743, or email them at sian.caine@guidedogs.org.uk or graham.kensett@guidedogs.org.uk