MINI Plant Sponsors Cowley Road Carnival 2015

Cowley Road Works is delighted to announce that MINI Plant Oxford is once again stepping in as a key sponsor for the Cowley Road Carnival, which will take place on 5 July 2015.

It is 10 years since the plant first sponsored Cowley Road Carnival, and Frank Bachmann, managing director, said: "We are delighted to yet again sponsor one of the most vibrant celebrations of Oxford's varied cultures. Being proud of the rich diversity of our own workforce, we hope people from all ages, backgrounds and cultures enjoy Carnival as a fantastic day out."  

The Carnival's theme this time is ‘Creating our Future', and as one of the major employers in Oxfordshire, MINI Plant Oxford is a major investor in skills and people's career development, with an extremely successful apprenticeship and graduate scheme.

Danielle Battigelli, Executive Director of Chair of Cowley Road Works, the charity producing the Carnival, said: "We are absolutely delighted that MINI Plant Oxford is continuing to support Cowley Road Carnival for the 10th year. This on-going commitment is invaluable to our funding and the successful organization of Carnival, and the many other supporting community and outreach events which take place throughout the year."

The MINI Plant is one of Oxfordshire's most important businesses and has a major role in the East Oxford community where Carnival Day is the highlight of the year.  The Carnival Day itself is the culmination of many other events and activities which bring the people of East Oxford together, many of them MINI Plant workers and their families.  

Cowley Road Carnival is the county's largest multi-cultural community event, attracting 45,000 people, in a vibrant and joyful celebration of the East Oxford community. The procession, which will start at 1.30 pm from The Plain end, is expected to involve around 700 people of all ages, and will represent the many diverse community groups from the City, including several local schools.  

Hundreds of performers will sing, play music, and dance at venues up and down the Road and on several stages including the Hobgoblin Car Park (behind Tesco at the end of Chapel Street), Manzil Gardens, the Young Women's Music Project at the Kate Garrett stage outside the O2 Academy and the Melody stage at the Restore car park.

Specially designated areas are planned to help carnival-goers plan their day, with a family zone at the Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, where there will be a baby boogie, baby changing facilities, and a family disco. Other zones feature discovery, body & soul, and melody & makers. 

The Carnival will start at noon and finish at 5pm. Find out more about what's on and where on the websitewww.cowleyroadcarnival.co.uk, Facebook and Twitter @cowleycarnival #cowleyroadcarnival.

Frank Bachmann, managing director of MINI Plant with Danielle Battigelle executive director of Cowley Road Works.

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Notes to editors

For more information, photographs and to arrange interviews, please contact Sarah Airey atsarah.airey@thebuzzworks.co.uktelephone 07855 086447.

In preceding years, MINI Plant has been very supportive of the Carnival and participated in a number of ways. Last year, MINI Plant commissioned a street dance performance by Body Politic with Carnival partner Pegasus Theatre. In 2013 MINI Plant Oxford supported Cowley Road Carnival as part of its celebration of 100 Years of Car Making in Oxford, including a specially commissioned street theatre performance reflecting the history of the car plant.

Earlier this month Oxford Brookes University in partnership with the BMW Group announced a launch of an innovative new undergraduate course in Business and Automotive Management, for those who wish to pursue a career in the automotive sector. 

This year's Carnival programme, which starts at noon on 5 July and lasting until 5pm, will see hundreds of performers on the street and adjacent areas. Crowds of over 45,000 are expected to come and enjoy an afternoon of free entertainment which includes Balloon Ascents and Ran Kan Kan on the Manzil Gardens stage, the chance to join in the ‘Haka' ritual dance from New Zealand, Dr Longitude's mysterious and magical emporium, a chill out area as the beach comes to the Cowley Road at ‘Cowleyfornia' and other zoned areas for the family and body & soul.

Cowley Road Carnival receives core funding from Oxford City Council.

Organisations who have agreed to support Carnival 2015 include: MINI Plant Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University Community Fund, the Patsy Wood Trust and Oxfordshire County Council.

Cowley Road Works is the organization behind the organization of Cowley Road Carnival. In 2015, Cowley Road Works won the Bybox Best Community Project at the OCVA Awards and has been shortlisted for the Oxford Business Awards in the category sponsored by the Oxford Times for best Charity and Community organization.

Carnival 2014

• 45,000 people attended the free event on Sunday 6 July from 12 noon to 6pm

• 730 people took part in the Carnival procession, including 13 school groups with pre Carnival costume/puppet and dance workshops

• 100 + children/ young adults and 40 + adults took part in pre Carnival workshops led by 4 visual artists, leading to a pre-Carnival exhibition at the Old Fire Station, a ‘making of' exhibition at The Mill, an exhibition planned for the Town Hall during the autumn, a permanent mural on Randolph Street/Cowley Road, a film, post cards and T shirt designs

• 17 dance groups, involving 228 dancers, performed on the stage on Manzil Gardens

• 270 + musicians and DJs performed

• 14 venues hosted music plus there were

• 10 outside stages & sound systems

• 2 family activity areas at the Asian Cultural Centre and at St Mary & St John Church

• Introduction of 'The Car Park' and Scrapyard Stage.

• 55 stalls, including 23 commercial, 32 charity/crafts/health