We recently met with Triliria Newbury, Chairperson of the Multicultural Friendship Association. Here’s what she had to tell us.
What does the Multicultural Friendship Association (MFA) do?
The MFA welcomes people from diverse backgrounds to Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding area.
Through friendship and support, we aim to promote integration and to create a feeling of worth and purpose within our community. We all need to feel that we belong and that we matter to someone.
Why do you work with Quartet?
Our group would not have survived without the staunch support of Quartet. By funding local community-orientated groups such as ours, Quartet provides much-needed backing and endorsement. We are always met with encouragement, flexibility and a friendly, ‘can do’ attitude. This means we are never afraid to ask!
What are the challenges being faced in your community?
In an increasingly remote society, we face the challenges of loneliness and isolation. These can, in turn, lead to fear, anxiety and even long-term ill health.
Additionally, we’re living in a world in which opinions, behaviour and attitudes can be very volatile. The MFA works to provide a safe and welcoming space – somewhere to find friendship and, we hope, a more balanced approach.
What has the funding that you have received from Quartet enabled you to deliver?
We have been able to continue our work in the local community. This includes our fortnightly drop-in, trips and events to celebrate our diverse cultures, providing information and guidance, or just being a ‘listening ear’.
The funding has also given us a base to work from. This has enabled us to work with and support other groups, as well as giving us the confidence to plan ahead.
What are your aspirations for MFA?
We would like to expand on what we can offer, and also to become better known within the community.
To have a chance of achieving this, we would benefit from a permanent base, an office and storage space. We would also need to attract more (and younger!) volunteers.
How important is giving locally?
Groups like ours would find it hard to keep going without local giving.
We are all volunteers and, as such, competing for funding against much larger, national groups would be a tall order.
The beauty is in the word ‘local’- where immediate issues are more easily understood.
Find our more
If you are a charity, voluntary or community organisation based and working in the West of England and are looking for funding to support the work you deliver, then we may be able to help.