Support an inclusive Carnival for local children

The Kensington Community & Schools (‘KCS’) Carnival Mas Band [website / Instagram] is loudly and proudly celebrating its 10th year of supporting local children and young people to participate in the Notting Hill Carnival. Our key goal each year is to get as many of them as possible participating in the Carnival, while having a fun and positive experience. Please help us smash our record of supporting more than 100 local children to participate this year!

We are the only ‘mas’ (masquerade) band on the road during the Carnival dedicated to local school children and inclusivity. All the children in our band are taught to sign our Soca songs in British Sign Language, so that even more children and young people can fully access the fun of the Carnival.

The children join us during the summer to learn, via intercultural dialogue, about the history and culture of Notting Hill, the Carnival and the Caribbean community, and the need for greater inclusivity in our community. We also teach them how to sign some basic words/ phrases as well as our Soca songs; they learn the Band’s energetic dance; and they make their costumes for the Carnival. Plus, have lots and lots of fun! Our volunteers are then on the road with the children on the day of the Carnival. Do wave hello when our Band goes past you on Children’s Day!

Here are YouTube links to some of our excellent previous Carnival parades: 2017 parade; and the 2015 parade .

All of the central KCS team are volunteers, but we need your help funding the activities and getting us on the road, the costs to cover the rental of the trucks on the day, materials and art sessions for the preparation and vital equipment.

We have approval to join the Carnival in 2022 and your valuable donation is critical in enabling us to ‘get on the road’. Many of our costs require payment upfront, so please contribute before the end of July.

With your support, we look forward to creating another joyful, positive and inclusive summer for more than 100 local children. Please give generously and help us make this summer a summer that they will remember and treasure forever.

We are grateful to the Harrow Club and Henry Dickens Community Centre for kindly donating space/ facilities, and to 24 Hearts for its amazing costume design and making support.