TESTIMONIALS

I have been living in Peterborough since 1969 and have been involved with community work since 1971 through my different roles in many organisations.

I was President of Pakistan Welfare Association in 1973, President of Asian Community Association, Chairman of Community Relations Council, Justice of Peace since 1994 and chairman of Joint Mosques Council which represent all Mosques in Peterborough with over 25,000 Muslims, representative in Faith organizations and indeed many other organisations.

During all this time I have had very close relationships with Peterborough City Council’s senior officers as well as senior councilors.

I can say with out any hesitation that Peterborough city is “City of hugely diversity and how we have been part of community cohesion.

The Mosques of Peterborough with over 25000 Muslims have been playing major role in facilitating various programmes such as Open days for non-Muslims, seminars, conferences to hence the
community relations, cohesions and better understand with all faiths and other community.

In Peterborough there are scores of different nationalities, faiths, languages- all living side by side in very harmoniously and credit must be given to Peterborough City Council who play a pivotal in all such matters.

During the Covid 19, Peterborough City Council, all Mosques and all faith groups worked together to reduce the spread of the Covid 19 in the city.

Peterborough is a unique city where all faiths and communities work together. We have a Joint Mosque Group which represents senior Officers of Peterborough City Council, Seiner officer of Constabulary, members of Joint Mosques Council and other organisations who work together and meet every Quarter to discuss any issues which effects communities. Similarly Joint Mosques Council was also unique where all Mosques work under one umbrella and now, we are working to set up an umbrella organisation for all faiths. There is lot more to be said about PCC and Peterborough itself, but I conclude that Peterborough deserves to be recognised as City of Culture.

Peterborough cathedral is delighted to offer it’s strong support for Peterborough’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029.

Peterborough is a city shaped by an extraordinary cultural heritage, from the internationally significant archaeology of Flag Fen to the living presence of Peterborough Cathedral at its heart. These places tell a story of creativity, faith and community that continues to shape the city today.

Equally important is Peterborough’s identity as a diverse and successful multicultural city. Our many communities enrich the cultural life of the city and give it a vibrancy, openness and energy that is central to who we are.

Peterborough has both the heritage and the people to make UK City of Culture 2029 a powerful, inclusive and lasting celebration. I wholeheartedly support this bid.

Culture is important because it shapes who we are, how we live, and how we connect with others. It affects individuals, communities, and society as a whole in powerful ways.

Motivated by these objectives, Peterborough Diwali Festival was launched in 2013 at the Cathedral Square in the City Centre. The event has been celebrated since then, during the festive Diwali season and is supported by Peterborough City Council. I am the founder and Secretary of Peterborough Diwali Festival Management Committee.

The festival is celebrated as a nonreligious, purely cultural event and has grown in stature year on year. It offers an opportunity for Hindus of Indian, Sri Lankan and Nepali origin, Jains, Sikhs, Muslims and Christians with Indian roots to unite and showcase their talents in music, dancing and their culinary skills to the local residents.

Footfall has increased tremendously over successive years and we have visitors coming from neighbouring towns also to enjoy and imbibe the spirit of the festivities.

Peterborough Diwali Festival’s diaspora wholeheartedly champion the bid that Peterborough should be awarded the City of Culture title. Besides Diwali, other communities are also encouraged to celebrate their festivals and culture. Such events are excellent avenues for local people to intermingle with others from different communities and to gain knowledge about one another’s culture and customs.

For Peterborough to be recognised as a City of Culture is important for several key reasons—socially, economically, and culturally.

Strengthening local identity and pride

Peterborough is one of the UK’s fastest-growing and most diverse cities. Celebrating its culture helps residents feel a stronger sense of belonging and pride, bringing together different communities through shared stories, traditions, and creative expression.

Boosting the local economy

Cultural status attracts visitors, investors, and funding. Festivals, exhibitions, and performances increase tourism, support local businesses, and create jobs in industries, hospitality, and events sectors.

Supporting young people and talent

A focus on culture creates more opportunities for young people to engage with the arts, develop skills, and explore creative careers. It also helps local artists, musicians, writers, and performers gain recognition and platforms to showcase their work.

Improving wellbeing and social cohesion

Cultural activities bring people together, reduce isolation, and improve mental wellbeing. They encourage dialogue, understanding, and collaboration across communities, making the city more inclusive and connected.

Changing perceptions of the city

Peterborough is often overlooked compared to larger UK cities. Being recognised as a City of Culture helps challenge stereotypes, highlighting its history, diversity, and creativity on a national stage.
Long-term regeneration and legacy

Cultural investment can lead to lasting improvements—new venues, public spaces, skills, and partnerships—that continue to benefit the city long after specific events end.

In short, culture matters because it connects people, strengthens communities, preserves heritage, and helps societies to grow and thrive.

Being a city of culture isn’t just about arts and entertainment; it’s also about growth, identity, opportunity, and community cohesion, for Peterborough, now and in the future.

On behalf of Salaam Radio, I am pleased to write in full support of Peterborough City Council’s bid to become the next UK City of Culture, and to confirm our strong endorsement of the Expression of Interest.

Salaam Radio is a community radio station based in Peterborough and the city’s only Muslim radio station. Since launching in 2016, we have worked to unite communities by providing an inclusive platform that reflects the many voices, cultures and lived experiences that make Peterborough such a vibrant place to live. Through a diverse range of shows and presenters, we encourage understanding, promote cohesion, and build bridges across communities through conversation, creativity and shared experiences.

Peterborough is uniquely placed to be a City of Culture because it is a city defined by its people: welcoming, resilient and richly diverse. Our communities contribute an exceptional range of languages, traditions, music, food, and heritage, creating a cultural identity that is both rooted and evolving. This diversity is not only present, but actively expressed daily through local initiatives, grassroots organisations, arts and cultural events, faith groups, youth projects, and community media such as Salaam Radio.

At Salaam Radio, we regularly work with local organisations, community groups and public services to amplify the positive work taking place across the city. Our broadcasts include community information, interviews with local leaders and volunteers, coverage of events, and discussions on issues that matter to residents. We also provide opportunities for volunteering, skills development
and media experience, particularly for those who may be underrepresented elsewhere, helping individuals gain confidence and contribute meaningfully to community life.

A UK City of Culture designation would provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase Peterborough’s cultural richness on a national stage, strengthen pride and belonging, and attract investment that benefits communities across the city. We believe this bid can bring people together, celebrate what makes Peterborough special, and create a legacy of cultural participation and
opportunity.

We would be delighted to support the bid further, including helping to engage diverse audiences,
sharing updates with our listeners, and using our platform to promote events and opportunities
connected to the programme.

I am writing as the Event Coordinator for Inclusion & Diversity East Anglia. For over a decade, we have been very much involved in delivering and exhibiting cultural performances and programmes to the city of Peterborough displaying Black heritage and history.

On a yearly basis we have exhibited a Black History Month show for Peterborough. Some of performances include music festivals, drumming and Afro Caribbean culture and heritage.

We created a platform for other communities to learn and share our culture and invite other communities to share their own culture and created a medium for a space for cohesion and diversity in our city.

We also visit schools to create cultural awareness and break the socio barriers to promote diversity by exhibiting this to young people.

Working with strategic Partners in the city, has allowed us to develop into a strong network of Black Leaders who come together to promote and empower Black culture and celebrate our heritage together.

We also use our strength to help others in the city by advocating for social change and meaningful social mixing. We have helped over 10,000 people.

The organisation is made up of a diverse mixture of Afro Caribbean and African communities. As an organisation we have contributed to the Black people in the city by empowering them.

I have received civic awards in 2016 and the Purple Plaque for my contribution and work for community projects, this is due to Peterborough embracing cultural heritage for its multicultural community.

This is why we fully support the bid for Peterborough to become a city of culture. A city that cultural diversity always leads to social harmony and equality.

I am writing on behalf of Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery to express our full support for Peterborough’s bid to become the City of Culture in 2029.

As one of the city’s leading cultural institutions, the Museum plays a central role in telling Peterborough’s stories, celebrating its communities, and fostering creativity across generations. We see every day the rich cultural heritage, growing artistic energy, and remarkable diversity that make Peterborough an ideal candidate for this prestigious title.

Achieving City of Culture status would offer a transformative opportunity for Peterborough—strengthening participation in the arts, amplifying community voices, and unlocking longterm social, cultural, and economic benefits. The Museum is committed to contributing fully to this shared vision as a key member of the Peterborough Cultural Alliance and Peterborough Tourism Board. We already work closely with local artists, schools, community groups, and heritage partners, and we stand ready to expand this work as part of a vibrant, citywide cultural programme in 2029.

As part of our contribution, Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery will:

• Support the development and delivery of yearround cultural activity in the leadup to 2029.
• Provide space for exhibitions, projects, and communityled cultural initiatives.
• Collaborate with partners across the city to ensure the programme is inclusive, representative, and impactful.
• Champion the bid locally, regionally, and nationally through our networks and partnerships.

We are confident that with sustained partnership and the support of organisations like ours,
Peterborough’s bid will not only succeed but inspire lasting cultural transformation for years to come.

On behalf of the John Clare Society, I both welcome and support your bid for Peterborough to become a UK City of Culture.

John Clare is not only an important part of your cultural heritage, but his influence has spread throughout the UK and to other countries, including the United States. He has been admired by some of the most admired poets of Britain and Ireland including Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney. He is therefore a celebrated UK cultural figure for all of us.

I am pleased to support Peterborough’s Expression of Interest for UK City of Culture 2029.

For more than three decades I have worked in publishing, and for the past fifteen years I have served as Managing Director and Publishing Editor of The Moment – an independent, digital cultural magazine created to champion Peterborough through ambitious, inclusive storytelling. Our editorial mission is simple: to replace the tired narrative of “what Peterborough lacks” with evidence of what Peterborough is – a city of talent, heritage, creativity and civic generosity – and to do so in a way that invites participation rather than spectatorship.

At heart, the proposition is equally simple: Peterborough’s cultural strength is already here, and when it is made visible – consistently, credibly and inclusively – it changes what people believe is possible for themselves and for the city. Over many years, I have seen how venues, festivals, artists, heritage organisations, community groups and civic partners can be connected through shared narrative and purpose, strengthening belonging, confidence and wellbeing, and helping people reimagine the places they live. As a sense of place strengthens, so too can a sense of self.

One example has stayed with me. Some time ago, I answered a phone call and the caller immediately hung up. I called the number back and we began talking. The caller was a member of the Asian community who had lived in Peterborough all her life. A survivor of an abusive relationship, she was now the single mother of an eight-year-old daughter and living with acute anxiety and depression. She had phoned simply to say thank you – but lost confidence at the last moment. She told me that, until recently, she had rarely ventured out in Peterborough, preferring to go to Cambridge or Leicester. But when she received a copy of The Moment, it inspired her to join a gym. Exercise kept her motivated, but making the phone call was still a big step. Had I not called back, we may never have known her story. This is what she said:

“The Moment magazine feels colourful and full of light. Because of it, I now go into the city centre and Cathedral Square – places I’d avoided since childhood because I was frightened about crime. The local news often makes me scared to go out. After reading your magazine, I even took my daughter for a walk along the river embankment and couldn’t believe how beautiful it was – just as you show and describe it. No other publication makes me feel this way about my own city. It makes me feel comfortable and safe here. It represents Peterborough as it really is: diverse, welcoming and positive. It encourages me to get out and take part, instead of staying at home. Elsewhere, I mostly see grey, negative coverage; your magazine is the opposite. It challenges the unfair perception so many people have of Peterborough, and the city should be using it to promote Peterborough nationally. I read The Moment to find out what’s going on, and it’s all I need. It’s given me the confidence to go out again, and it keeps me motivated, just like my exercise does.”

This is precisely the kind of impact Peterborough can scale through a City of Culture programme: culture that reaches beyond the already engaged; improves wellbeing and confidence; helps residents reclaim public space; and strengthens pride and belonging across communities. When people see themselves differently in the place they call home, participation rises, confidence returns, and communities begin to invest – emotionally and practically – in their city again.

Peterborough has the raw material – rich heritage, distinctive places, and a diverse population with stories worth telling. More importantly, it has the capacity to turn those assets into participation, partnership and measurable social value. A successful bid will not be built on spectacle alone, but on the city’s ability to convene, to listen, to include, and to deliver. In many respects, the work is not to invent a new Peterborough, but to unlock what is already here – and connect it with ambition, care and consistency. I believe Peterborough can do that, and that UK City of Culture 2029 would be a catalytic opportunity to accelerate the city’s cultural confidence, deepen collaboration across organisations, and create lasting benefits for residents.

I am proud to support this Expression of Interest.

Metal is proud to support Peterborough’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029. This is a meaningful moment for our city and a powerful opportunity to celebrate and amplify the creativity that already thrives here.

Peterborough is rich with diverse voices, bold ideas and community-led cultural activity. This ambition can strengthen collaboration, reshape the narrative of the city and showcase Peterborough with confidence and pride.