The city of York is set to experience its first multicultural health festival later this month with the York Health Mela.
The brand-new festival, which aims to address health inequalities in marginalised communities, will take place on Sunday 24 September at the York Art Gallery in Museum Gardens.
The word mela means ‘meeting’ or ‘gathering’ in Hindi, and the festivals traditionally originated from South Asian cultures, but have been adopted in other cities across the UK for decades.
Organised by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) alongside its partners, the festival will showcase a health exhibition and provide attendees with free health checks and advice.
The family-friendly festival will also include live entertainment with traditional displays of music and dance performances, art, and a range of food stalls.
Sarah Coltman-Lovell, NHS Place Director at NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB, said: “We are delighted to work with partners across the York Health and Care Partnership to organise our first multicultural Health Mela in York. This is not just an event; it’s a celebration of our communities and the shared goal of better health and wellbeing.
“The event will feature interactive health exhibits, engaging activities and local performances for all ages. This is a unique opportunity for communities to feel empowered to make lifestyle changes for their health and wellbeing.
“This collaboration across health, social care and the voluntary sector brings together the strengths, expertise, and resources of diverse organisations, all united by a common goal, to make a positive and lasting difference in our communities.”
The event is free, open to all and will take place from 10am until 5pm.
You can also visit the York Health Mela website and follow their Facebook page to keep up-to-date with the latest information and activities.