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Food For Thought

Food For Thought

by Charley Genever | Oct 1, 2026 | Upcoming Events

Monday 9 November Celebrate Iqbal’s birthday with an evening poetry gathering and meal!

Allama Iqbal Festival 2026

Allama Iqbal Festival 2026

by Charley Genever | Sep 25, 2026 | Current Projects, Upcoming Events

A community festival programme, celebrating the life and poetry of Sir Allama Iqbal this November.

Chand Ali Khan Qawwal + Party

Chand Ali Khan Qawwal + Party

by Charley Genever | Sep 25, 2026 | Upcoming Events

Thurs 5 Nov 2026
Celebrate the poetry and life of Allama Iqbal through Qawwali and musical performances. Headlined by the formidable Chand Ali Khan Qawwal & Party.

Welland Makers – Crafty Meet-ups

Welland Makers – Crafty Meet-ups

by Keely Mills | Aug 18, 2026 | Upcoming Events

Monthly starting Thurs 10th September 2026

Join these FREE creative afternoons where you make, create, and chat. Welland Makers will be hosted by the team of …

Make a Lantern Display – For The Eye Village Lantern Parade! For 12-16 year olds.

Make a Lantern Display – For The Eye Village Lantern Parade! For 12-16 year olds.

by Kim Coley | Aug 14, 2026 | Upcoming Events

26th – 29th October
During October Half term, young people are invited to work together to create lanterns in safe, creative, and laid-back sessions. Workshops are beginner friendly

Allama Iqbal Festival 2026: Navigating Iqbal (Lunchtime Talk)

Allama Iqbal Festival 2026: Navigating Iqbal (Lunchtime Talk)

by Charley Genever | Jul 20, 2026 | Upcoming Events

Tues 10 November
Lunchtime Talks is a celebration of the work, contributions and enduring relevance of the visionary poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal.

Eye Gets Green presents ‘I know a story about Eye’

Eye Gets Green presents ‘I know a story about Eye’

by Peterborough Presents | Mar 30, 2026 | Current Projects, Eye, Peterborough, Upcoming Events

Anytime
Watch ‘I know a story about Eye’, by Eye Gets Green and Emily Steele-Dias.

Thrive Live – Special Edition: International Women’s Day

Thrive Live – Special Edition: International Women’s Day

by Peterborough Presents | Mar 4, 2026 | Peterborough, Upcoming Events

Anytime A 90-minute special livestream event, bringing deaf women together in Peterborough on International Women’s Day, hosted by Nadia Nadarajah.

Millfield of Dreams

Millfield of Dreams

by Charley Genever | May 20, 2025 | Current Projects, Millfield, Upcoming Events

Anytime
Watch: Millfield of Dreams is a powerful short film by Mark Murphy, co-created with people from Millfield, Gladstone, and New England. Over 100 local residents and community groups came together to showcase the vibrant and diverse heart of Millfield through film.

Recent Posts

  • Food For Thought
  • Allama Iqbal Festival 2026
  • Chand Ali Khan Qawwal + Party
  • Kashmiri Gharbaar Installation
  • Lantern Parade drop-in workshop with Light Whale International and Peterborough Presents

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2 weeks to go until… Peterborough’s very own Alla 2 weeks to go until… 
Peterborough’s very own Allama Iqbal Festival 2026. 🎉

If you’ve not had a look at the events in this community festival programme celebrating the life and poetry of Sir Allama Iqbal - now is your time! 
One of the events is ready full, and our largest event at the huge New Theatre is already over half full! 

The festival programme is open to anyone to attend, and features a variety of events and activities which showcase South Asian culture, traditions, and creativity.

2026 – Full Programme, 5 - 10 November: 
🌹Thurs 5th Nov: Chand Ali Khan - Qawwal + Party (OVER HALF FULL) 
🌹Saturday 7 Nov: Family Fun Day at Allama Iqbal Community Centre
🌹Monday 9 Nov: Food For Thought. A relaxed, informal dinner & writing workshop for poets. (FULLY BOOKED)! 
🌹Tuesday 10 November: Lunchtime Talks – Navigating Iqbal - lunchtime mini talks at ARU. 

🌹Allama Iqbal (1877 -1938) was a philosopher and poet, recognised as the national poet of Pakistan. His poetry, written in Punjabi, Farsi, Urdu, English, explores themes of community, nature, social justice, khudi (self-realisation), imagination, and spirituality.

🌹There is also a free downloadable PDF made by our community panel Numra which tells you more about Allama Iqbal’s life and legacy. 

Allama Iqbal Festival is a partnership between us at Peterborough Presents, Gladstone Connect Ltd, Pakistan Community Association Peterborough, Landmark Theatres, Peterborough Music Hub, Salaam Radio, ARU Peterborough, The Beeches Primary School, Gladstone Park Academy, National Literacy Trust, and a group of passionate residents and Iqbal scholars. What a collab! 

For more information about the festival, or for accessibility, head to Link Tree, our website, or call/ text Charley Genever on 07435 985 935. 

#iqbalday #iqbalpoetry #allamaiqbal #peterborough #allamaiqbalfestival
We’ve recently seen a post we’d like to re-share h We’ve recently seen a post we’d like to re-share highlighting our Reasonable Adjustment visioning sessions - and our commitment to making arts and culture more accessible locally. 

Here’s Sam Carling MP: 

“It was a pleasure to recently join the team at Peterborough Presents as they explored what their ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ (RAD) initiative would like going into 2027.

RAD is a fantastic programme that seeks to make culture and the arts more accessible to, and unlock new opportunities for, deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities, so it was great to see a wide range of stakeholders offering their input on how this cause can be furthered in the year ahead. 

I’d like to give a particular shout out to Julie Fernandez who is a tireless campaigner in this area. It was great to see her work recognised as she was named one of ‘Peterborough’s top 100’ at the recent Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce Centenary Dinner. 🎉”

Thanks for sharing this @sam_carling_mp ! 😎

Great to see you and others there with our @julie.fernandez.58760 having these conversations. 

More coming soon!

#accessibility #accessibleart #ddncommunity #ddn #creativity
Have you heard about the Family Fun Day at the Gla Have you heard about the Family Fun Day at the Gladstone Connect - Allama Iqbal Centre on Satursday 6th November as part of the Allama Iqbal Festival 2026? 

An afternoon of creative activity in the heart of the community. Expect food, creative art & writing activities, meet a real life Eagle, and watch a brand new film created by Gladstone Connect’s Youth Connect group and professional artist Kevin of ImageNation54.

Saturday 7th November | 1pm-5pm
Allama Iqbal Centre, 157 Cromwell Road, PE1 2EL
FREE | No need to book - just turn up

ایک مزے دار، خاندانی تقریب۔ کمیونٹی کے دل میں تخلیقی سرگرمیوں بھرا دوپہر

#AllamaIqbalFestival #AllamaIqbal #Community #Creativity @allamaiqbalcentre
🎤 MEET SOME OF THE SPEAKERS 🎤 Navigating Iqbal – L 🎤 MEET SOME OF THE SPEAKERS 🎤
Navigating Iqbal – Lunchtime Talks. 

What can the words of a poet teach us about how we live, think and see the world today? 

Come along to Lunchtime Talks: Navigating Iqbal and hear from local voices exploring the ideas and influence of Allama Iqbal — in a relaxed, informal session where lived experience matters just as much as academic knowledge. 

Open to all backgrounds and experience levels, no former knowledge needed. 

🎤 Here’s a first look at the line-up:

✨ Annila Saghir will explore Iqbal’s progressive views on women, the power of mothers as educators, and how his ideas have inspired her — balancing tradition with the possibility of change.

✨ Zeeshan Ali Hussain will bring two famous Urdu poems, Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa, to life. Together, they form a powerful dialogue between humanity and God, reflecting on the challenges facing Muslims in the modern world.

✨ Abid Hussain will explore Break the chains and spread your wings to fly high — an invitation to think about freedom, potential and what it means to find your own path.

And much much more! 

Hosted by the fantastic Numra Ghafoor, expect short, thought-provoking talks, a mix of English and Urdu, and fresh perspectives from people with a personal connection to Iqbal and his work. (@numraghafoor)

You don’t need to be an Iqbal expert to join us. Whether his poetry is already close to your heart or you’re discovering it for the first time, you’re very welcome.

Tuesday 10 November
12pm–1:30pm
ARU Living Lab, Bishop’s Road, Peterborough, PE1 5BW
FREE — but booking is essential!

👉 Save your free place: 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/allama-iqbal-festival-2026-navigating-iqbal-lunchtime-talk-tickets-1994648980796
(Link also in bio). 

Come curious. 
Leave with something to think about.

Part of the Allama Iqbal Festival, supported by ARU Peterborough.

#PeterboroughPresents #AllamaIqbalFestival #Peterborough #Community #creativity
Celebrate the poetry and life of Allama Iqbal thro Celebrate the poetry and life of Allama Iqbal through Qawwali and musical performances.

‼️ Please note - HALF of all current tickets have already sold! ‼️

Expect an evening of music, faith, and celebration. Suitable for all ages! Headlined by the mesmerising sound of Chand Ali Khan Qawwal & Party. A portion of the sale of each ticket will be re-invested into the future of Allama Iqbal Festival, thanks to support from Landmark Theatres.

When: Thursday 5th November
Time: 6:30pm start 
Where: The New Theatre, Broadway
Cost: £11
علامہ اقبال سے متاثر قوالی نائٹ

For more info (including accessibility info), or to book please 
visit www.peterboroughpresents.org, click on the QR code.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

More information about the Iqbal Festival 2026: 
A community festival programme, celebrating the life & poetry of Sir Allama Iqbal this November. Read on to find out about the events planned for 2026!

اس نومبر میں، کمیونٹی فیسٹیول پروگرام، جو سر علامہ اقبال کی زندگی اور شاعری کا جشن مناتا ہے۔

Allama Iqbal Festival is a partnership between us at Peterborough Presents, Gladstone Connect Ltd, Pakistan Community Association Peterborough, Landmark Theatres, Peterborough Music Hub, Salaam Radio, ARU Peterborough, The Beeches Primary School, Gladstone Primary Academy, National Literacy Trust, and a group of passionate residents and Iqbal scholars.

This is our second year hosting the Allama Iqbal Festival, and we hope to make it an annual event in Peterborough for years to come! If you’d like to support this journey, please reach out to Charley at 
Peterborough Presents, at charley.genever@neneparktrust.org.uk 
or call/text/whatsapp 07435 985935.

#peterborough #community #qawwal #chandalikhan #allamaiqbal  @chandalikhanqawwal @landmarktheatresuk @salaam.radio  @arupeterborough @literacy_trust  @beechesprimarysch @gladstoneparkprimary
🫟 What a great pumpkin painting session with Wella 🫟 What a great pumpkin painting session with Welland Makers! 🫟

Come and enjoy the session next month where we will be doing needle punch! (Thursday 12th November). 

A crafty, making, chatty group based in #Welland. 
We’ll make you a brew, whilst you make something useful or beautiful.

Join these FREE & MONTHLY creative afternoons where you make, create, and chat. 

Welland Makers will be hosted by the little team of Orton Makers, which is a craft group that has been running for nearly four years over in Orton. (And was set up with Peterborough Presents originally) They are volunteers with busy lives, but they also have a passion for sharing easy, accessible, fun and different crafting. 

They encourage people to try new things with no worries about failing, and in safe and enjoyable meetings. 
These sessions are open to everyone, whether you knit, carve, glue, draw, or make. 

You are welcome to bring along a personal crafting project. But, if you don’t have anything to bring but fancy having a go at making something, then there will be an activity for you to try. You can also come along if you just want to meet others for a chat. 

No experience necessary, just an interest or curiosity in making / craft. We will provide the materials, tea, coffee, and biscuits. 

Next dates are: 
Thursday 12 November 2026- Punch needle 
Thursday 10 December 2026- Xmas Decor 
Thursday 14 January 2027-Batik Dye on tote Bags 
Thursday 11 February 2027- Embroidery/ Embellishing Batik tote bags 

TIME: 12:30pm-2:30pm 
WHERE: Woodfield Park Community Centre (The Charteris Centre), Normanton Road, Welland, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE1 4XE 
COST: FREE! (No booking necessary, just drop in). 
WHO: Age 16+ unless accompanied by an adult. 

HOW: Email Alan Sieglow with any general questions or access questions: 
Alan.seiglow@neneparktrust.org.uk or PM us here. 

#crafting #freecreativetime #peterborough #createyourplace
Not your usual day, but a fun one… The PP team e Not your usual day, but a fun one… 

The PP team enjoyed the @neneparkpboro Annual Staff Conference at the Posh Ground this week. Especially the great company and games and quizzes (and yummy food 😉) between the important info, organisational celebrations and strategy stuff. 

I (Kim) had never been to the Peterborough stadium before (I’m deffo not a football kinda gal), but it was really nice to see the local football community’s city treasure, and learn about the history and set up of the place on our mini tour. 

On the tour - Selina ‘made’ our bird themed teams we were in - create a football chant to compete against each other. 😝 
Our little group were the Cuckoos and our winning chant went as follows: 

“We’re the best 
We’re the best 
We’ll take over your nest. 
Who are we… CUCKOOO CUCKOOOO!”
(*Flaps about like weird, crazy birds). 

…Quite fitting if you ask me. 

Thanks @neneparkpboro 🥳 
Thanks @theposh 💙

Have a good weekend everyone. 

#teamwork #neneparkfamily #whenworkisplay
🌹 Allama Iqbal Festival 2026. 🌹 A community festi 🌹 Allama Iqbal Festival 2026. 🌹

A community festival programme, celebrating the life and poetry of Sir Allama Iqbal this November. 🙌🏽

The festival programme is open to anyone to attend, and features a variety of events and activities which showcase South Asian culture, traditions, and creativity. Read on to find out about the events planned for 2026.

Allama Iqbal Festival is a partnership between us at Peterborough Presents, Gladstone Connect Ltd, Pakistan Community Association Peterborough, Landmark Theatres, Peterborough Music Hub, Salaam Radio, ARU Peterborough, The Beeches Primary School, Gladstone Park Academy, National Literacy Trust, and a group of passionate residents and Iqbal scholars. What a collab! 

Our aim is to make Allama Iqbal Festival an annual event in Peterborough. Sir Iqbal’s birthday (9th November) is celebrated every year, both in Pakistan and around the globe. We want Peterborough & our communities to be part of this celebration!

2026 – Full Programme
5 - 10 November: 

🌹Thurs 5th November: 
Chand Ali Khan - Qawwal + Party

🌹Saturday 7 November: 
Family Fun Day at the Allama Iqbal Community Centre

🌹Monday 9 November: 
Food For Thought
A relaxed, informal dinner & writing workshop for poets.

🌹Tuesday 10 November: 
Lunchtime Talks – Navigating Iqbal - lunchtime mini talks at ARU. 

🌹About Allama Iqbal and our 2025 programme 🌹
Allama Iqbal (1877 -1938) was a philosopher and poet, recognised as the national poet of Pakistan. His poetry, written in Punjabi, Farsi, Urdu, English, explores themes of community, nature, social justice, khudi (self-realisation), imagination, and spirituality.

🌹There is also a free downloadable PDF made by our community panel Numra which tells you more about Allama Iqbal’s life and legacy. 

For more information about the festival, or for accessibility, head to Link Tree for our website, or call/ text Charley Genever on 07435 985 935. 

#iqbalday #iqbalpoetry #allamaiqbal #peterborough allamaiqbalfestival 
@landmarktheatresuk  @salaam.radio  @arupeterborough  @gladstoneparkprimary @nationalliteracytrust @aceagrams
🔉Keely Mills is on the Radio talking about the 202 🔉Keely Mills is on the Radio talking about the 2027 Eye Village Lantern Parade AND how you can get involved. 🔉

(‼️Please excuse Kim’s over excitement with the screen movements‼️).

Here’s more info about one of the workshops too: 
🫟Make a Lantern Display with Eye Gets Green and be part of the Eye Village Lantern Parade 2027🫟
Eye Gets Green is a club for young people (12 - 16 years) from Eye or nearby villages, where they can get creative and explore the environment at the same time. Over the last year, young people have made films, explored drawing, designed murals, and tried other creative activities like street art or photography.

During October Half term, young people are invited to work together to create lanterns in safe, creative, and laid-back sessions. Workshops are beginner friendly – you don’t have to have any previous experience. This set of four creative workshops/sessions will focus on lantern making and the creation of lit-up displays. Through the sessions, the young people will try different ‘making’ techniques, using a mixture of natural materials. They will experiment with making structures using light. They will also work together to help create a large lantern or lanterns that will be a major part of the Light Up Eye Lantern parade in February 2027.

Each day and session will be led by the team from Light Whale International who created the Eye Lantern Parade.
All materials will be provided. We will provide snacks and drinks, but please bring a packed lunch.
Sessions are FREE but please book. 

Tuesday 27, October from 10am- 3pm
Other workshops are on: Wed 28, Thurs 29 Oct
Eye Youth Club and Community Centre, Crowland Road, PE6 7TN

Please note: You don’t need to sign up for all 4 of the workshops, just sign up to any that you can attend.
We will require permission from a parent / guardian for all participants.

Access and other information:
Please email Keely at keely.mills@neneparktrust.org.uk or peterboroughpresents@neneparktrust.org.uk.
🌱Wanderings Around Welland 🌱 New Community Produce 🌱Wanderings Around Welland 🌱
New Community Producer, Alan Seiglow is out and about in Welland. Alan loves meeting new people and hearing their stories and histories. Alan will be sporting a Peterborough Presents T-Shirt so if you see him and want to say hello whether on the street or on the 4a Bus between Queensgate and Welland do stop him for a chat. He’s in the early stages of gathering ideas and dreams from the community to make artistic happenings in Welland over the coming years! 

🫟Dunelm Delivers 🫟
A big thank you to Rachel First and the team at Dunelm Peterborough who donated an array of arts craft materials to the Welland Makers. A great kick-start to the new series of free creative community workshops, it all helps! 

🎃Welland Makers Thursday 8th October 🎃
Just in time for Halloween preparations, Welland Makers will be running a FREE craft session painting ceramic pumpkins on Thursday 8th October, 12.30-2.30pm at Woodfield Park Community Centre (formerly the Charteris Centre). Join our group of makers & crafters for activity, tea and cake and refreshments. No need to book for Ages 16+ no experience necessary. 

Know someone in or near Welland? Share this with them and receive ultimate gratitude from us. 😎
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