Members of the Cantonese community are coming together through a voluntary organisation with support from North Ayrshire Council.
In summer 2024, Ayrshire Lok Oi Association was set up at the Volunteer Rooms in Irvine after two separate Chinese groups - Lok Fu Chinese Elderly Group and Oi Kwan Chinese Women’s Group - amalgamated.
This was achieved with backing from the council’s Connected Communities service, and the group’s next exciting event is a celebration of Chinese New Year in the venue where it all began.
On Monday 3 February, the association, chaired by Joe Chan, will host a Chinese New Year celebration from 1pm to 6pm that includes: food; traditional costumes, mainly in red as this is considered to be a lucky colour; decorations such as paper lanterns and an eye-catching lion dance.
Mr Chan said:
“The aim of the organisation is to help promote the health and well-being of members of the Cantonese community – and all ethnic minority groups - across Ayrshire.
“We are here to support everyone, particularly Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas, arrange activities, help people socialise and host events.
“Most of our committee members, and their families, have been settled in Ayrshire most of their lives, working and contributing to their communities.”
Chinese New Year – also known as Lunar New Year - was on 29 January and this is the Year of the Snake.
The Association’s vice chair Angie Yau added: “We are very pleased with the ongoing support from the Council. We are a non-profit organisation, and our goal is to work with and welcome as many people as possible.
“We would like to see some new people coming along to the Volunteer Rooms on February 3, from all communities. We can guarantee you a warm and friendly welcome!”
The group has invited guests along on the day, and members of the public are welcome to go along from 3.30pm to meet the organisers and find out more about the Association.
To find out more about Ayrshire Lok Oi Association, you can send an email to: Ayrshire.lokoi@gmail.com or call 07415 333 206.
