Black History Month

Ideas and events

Activities
Your branch and region can get involved in Black History Month activities following some of the examples given here, or using your own ideas.

Mark Black History Month in whatever way you can and use your experiences to build on this for the coming year. These ideas can also be used to celebrate trade union activity and Black members' contributions all year-round.

Events
If you would like to discuss your ideas, or get support and advice for your events contact Pav Akhtar, National Race Equality Officer, email: p.akhtar@unison.co.uk or telephone: 0845 355 0845. Let us know about any events you are organising to celebrate Black History Month.

Ideas
This is just a selection of ideas, download a full list of ideas and activities.
Link to a PDF document on this siteIdeas - PDF (60kb)

  • Organise an open-house event at your branch. Invite Black members to come along and learn about the work of UNISON and how it benefits them. Provide refreshments and ensure the venue is accessible.

  • Promote UNISON's Challenge X initiative throughout the month, focussing on Black members.

  • Run a poetry writing competition for members around the UNISON Black History Month theme of 'Changing Worlds, Changing Minds'.

  • Work with groups like the Student Assembly Against Racism www.naar.org.uk/saar to engage young people and run initiatives with local colleges and universities and youth groups.

  • Contact local schools to see if you can run a history/citizenship class or an assembly about the role of the trade unions in supporting migrant workers to the UK.

  • Run an international food fair in a central venue. Engage workers of Black heritage to promote their national identities through food and textiles. Try asking workplace caterers to join in by preparing menus themed on the cuisines of Black countries from around the world.
CONTACT DETAILS
• UNISON's national race equalities officer is Pav Akhtar.
UNISON Black History Month
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: p.akhtar@unison.co.uk
Photograph of Gloria Mills
"Black History Month enables us to benefit from the goodness of our multi-cultural society. And it allows us to remember the achievements of those who challenged the norm and struggled to make the world a better place"
Gloria Mills, UNISON national organiser for equality