A new community group for Afro-Caribbean and South Americans in Bridlington and East Yorkshire, has found a home from home at Bridlington’s Brunswick Hotel.
Meeting in the first floor dining room of the Brunswick Hotel ACES Bridlington Club and Friends by the Sea has been set up by Rosalind O’Dean to support people in Bridlington and East Yorkshire of Afro-Caribbean or South American descent.
“While we are focused on Afro-Caribbean and South American communities on the coast, our aspiration and aim is to help absolutely anyone in the local community that needs assistance; we are inclusive of everyone based on peace, unity and respect,” said Rosalind, who is on the latest leg of a life’s journey that has taken her from Guyana to Bridlington by way of London, and who is the driving force behind the new group which she set up earlier this summer along with friends and family.
“ACES Bridlington Club and Friends by the Sea are not part of or affiliated with BLM/Black Lives Matter as we fundamentally believe ALL LIVES MATTER,” she added.
The first meetings have already hosted people from many different countries such as Barbados, Jamaica, Armenia, Kenya, Guyana, Central Guinea and the Punjab and from across the UK.
Meeting between 11am and 3pm on a Saturday two or three times a month ACES Bridlington Club and Friends by the Sea is in the process of setting up as a charity and is already organising sports and social events, including their first Afro-Caribbean and South American food banquet event on Saturday, October 29th, as well as a Macmillan Coffee Morning.
Michael Harrison, owner of Harrison Leisure, the Bridlington-based hospitality group, which operates The Brunswick Hotel and which has donated the room use free of charge, said: “Bridlington is such a warm and welcoming town, something that I’ve felt ever since I moved here in the early 1980s.
“We wanted to help Rosalind in her ambition to start the group and give the group and its members a head start in feeling like they are part of the community and that they have facilities right here in the middle of town which they can come and call their own.”
For anyone who would like to support ACES for free, the group is registered with Easyfundraising, where thousands of everyday brands donate to charity when purchases are made online using easyfundraising.
“All you need to do is sign up and remember to use easyfundraising whenever you shop online. These donations really mount up, so please sign up to support us,” added Rosalind.
As well as the Brunswick Hotel, Harrison Leisure is currently in the middle of a full refubishment of The Grade-2 listed The Old Floral Pavillion Leisure Complex that is home to Jerome’s Cafe, the popular ice cream and pizza cafe, restaurant, and the kids’ play area, Montyzoomers.
It also runs Salt on the Harbour, next to south beach, a high quality seafood restaurant and cafe bar and with takeaway fish and chips.