Avon Indian Community Association

Over50s Social Club

The Avon Indian Community Association (AICA) supports Indian communities in Bristol. The Over50s Social Club is attended by over 685 people pa, 80% are aged over 70, 20% are disabled/frail. Most are older women, widowed and English is not their primary language.

Over50’s club benefits:

Exercise – 30 min armchair yoga
Socialisation –reduce isolation and loneliness
Education – speakers on issues from diabetes, dementia, home-help, will-writing, financial support etc.
Support and sign-posting for vulnerable members of the community
Fight discrimination –We work to build bridges with the wider Bristol community and local organisations.

The AICA - run by volunteers, open to all

The vision and mission of the AICA is to provide a platform for promoting social cohesiveness within the current and new generations of people of Indian origin and the wider community. The AICA also strives to create better understanding and awareness of Indian culture, heritage and values to encourage and promote cross and inter-cultural communication.

We do this by providing support, advice and information on the following subjects: social and cultural issues, health and wellbeing, welfare, education and employment. We also organise various functions at which community members can come together to celebrate cultural events, go on day trips and/or share views on topics of interest. A good example of this kind of work is the lantern making workshops we run with schools in Bristol to celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Light.

The long term aim of the organisation is to acquire charitable status and to establish a Cultural Community Centre with facilities for all ages, for family and community events, and to provide a signposting service to the Indian community for their day-to-day problems and needs.

Our key services include:

monthly meetings for Indian families – often centred around Cultural holidays (such as Baisakhi, Holi, Lohri, Diwali), when families come to discuss cultural issue and get support for any issues they are struggling with. We have recently started online Sanskrit lessons for younger members of our communities.
Elderly Social Club (Over 50’s) – providing a safe space for vulnerable members of our community to meet and socialise, to educate, share ideas, challenge discrimination and have fun together.
Cultural Celebrations – to celebrate Indian culture holidays, bringing people of faith and none, together to understand more about Indian culture, to share food and friendship, and to build bridges across the wider Bristol and South Gloucestershire population.
Outings – taking community members to sites of historical and cultural interest across England.

Over the past 15 years AICA membership has continued to grow. During this time the organisation has nurtured and developed strong connections within the local Indian community, and fostered working relationships right across Bristol and South Gloucestershire with care providers, community groups, schools, social services and local politicians. We are in the process of acquiring charitable status, and hope in the future to build a Cultural Centre – to serve as a place to meet, discuss, share and nurture Indian culture in our area. We aspire to build understanding and strong connections across all communities, to increase harmony and reduce discrimination for all.

For more information please see the Avon ICA website by clicking here, or their Facebook page by clicking here.