Published: Wednesday 24 August 2022
While thousands of revellers celebrate the return of Carnival to the streets of Notting Hill this weekend, older residents will be enjoying their own celebration by the sea.
Some 39 members of the North Kensington community who want to take a break during the lively Carnival period will be heading to Eastbourne for a weekend trip organised by Age UK and made possible by funding from Kensington and Chelsea Council.
The travelling party are setting off for the south coast on Saturday to enjoy three days by the sea before returning to the borough on Tuesday morning once Carnival’s sound systems and crowds have departed.
This is the sixth year that the Council has partnered with Age UK to provide older residents with the opportunity to get away from the borough during Carnival.
Cllr Emma Will, Lead Member for Culture, said:
“Carnival is a wonderful celebration and we’re so excited to welcome it back to our streets, but we equally respect that the sound systems and crowds are not for everyone.
“We’re proud to support Age UK in funding this seaside break and I hope our residents enjoy the sea air, some fish and chips and an ice cream or two over the bank holiday weekend.”
In addition to partnering with Age UK for the seaside trip, Kensington and Chelsea Council is working with groups such as mental health charity Hestia to arrange alternative events for its service users.
The Council has also been preparing residents, visitors and local businesses for Carnival with booklets, a dedicated phone line that will be open over the weekend and an online hub of information that covers everything from road closures to free basement cleaning for any properties affected by Carnival.