Celebrating Black History Month at The Forward Trust – cultural awareness through reflection, networking and inclusion

Around 40 members of staff from different services and teams across Forward attended for a day of networking, reflection, and celebration to celebrate Black History Month on the 21st of October. The office was transformed overnight, decorated with an array of African and Caribbean flags and traditional fabrics. There were also stalls with African beads which guests could use to make their own jewellery and learn about Black hairstyles. Jacaranda, an award-winning, diverse-owned independent publisher and bookseller, displayed a range of their best-selling books, many of which were written by Black-British authors.

Opened by members of the RACE ERG, including Annie Gaisie (Service Manager, Probation Dependency & Recovery) and Stephen Anderson (Enterprise Coach), who provided their own unique accounts of what Black History Month meant to them. Several short talks followed from guest speakers, covering topics such as sickle cell, racial justice in the prison system, and mental health and trauma within the Black community.

Lunch was provided and the menu included traditional Ghanaian and Caribbean dishes, such as jollof rice, rice and peas, jerk chicken, red stew, and mac ‘n’ cheese – which all went down a treat!

Following lunch, there was a panel discussion featuring members of staff which focused on their career journeys and challenges they’ve faced in the past. This conversation on ‘race in the workplace’ also prompted discussions on how organisations can be more inclusive. The event closed with a short message from the Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Ketiwe Anjorin, who said:

“It was great to see lots of staff come together in person to celebrate, learn about and reflect on Black history, culture and some of the challenges that Black communities face in and outside of the workplace.

“The speakers were brilliant, the food was delicious and the discussions were thought-provoking. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to connect with different people across the organisation, including many that have African or Caribbean heritage like myself.

“These kinds of events are so important in terms of building a sense of belonging for all employees and help to keep that conversation going about how we can ensure that we are being inclusive of everyone at Forward.”

Thanks to our guest speakers and the Race Forward ERG for organising such a brilliant and life-affirming event.