Calderdale Council celebrates diversity during Black History Month

Black History Month during October is an annual commemoration for people from many different backgrounds come together to honour the history and positive contributions in the UK.

From Thursday 1 to Thursday 8 October, the Council is lighting the iconic Wainhouse Tower red and green to show its support for Black History Month, and to stand as a proud symbol of recognition for Calderdale’s diversity. The Piece Hall is also lighting up to mark the national awareness month.

Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Leader, said: “We are proud of the diversity, kindness and togetherness that define Calderdale’s communities. We embrace the major contribution that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people have made, and continue to make, to enrich our local culture and make our place and our economy stronger.

“We are marking Black History Month in a variety of ways to promote knowledge and understanding of Black and South Asian history and culture, and to demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion. But this commitment isn’t just for one month of the year – we pledge to embed it in everything we do, every day.”

The month dedicated to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities comes after the Black Lives Matter campaign went global after the death of African American George Floyd, who was killed during an arrest after a store clerk alleged he had passed a counterfeit $20 bill in Minneapolis

Calderdale Council staff will commemorate Black History Month by sharing and celebrating how their own diverse stories contribute to the richness of their work, plus personal accounts of their families’ journeys and contributions to the UK. They will also share information on BAME historical figures, as well as BAME food recipes and videos.

The Council’s BAME Network will launch its staff newsletter and encourage safe, open discussions where all voices are heard, to ensure greater understanding, recognition of diversity and a path towards equity.

Calderdale Libraries will be sharing posts on social media and promoting the great books and e-books that they have available on BAME culture. Diverse story books will continue to be part of the libraries’ storytime sessions.

Keep an eye on @Calderdale on Twitter and Calderdale Council on Facebook for a range of content during Black History Month.

Diversity and inclusion are always a priority for the Council, and work has stepped up to tackle inequality over the last two years since the launch of the Vision2024 for Calderdale.

The Vision aims to realise the potential to make the borough’s five key qualities (enterprising, talented, kind, resilient and distinctive) mean something for all communities regardless of who they are.

Work has included creating the BAME Network; launching the Inclusion Plan; teaming up with the voluntary and community sector to become a Valley of Sanctuary; improving access to skills and jobs; and helping to address health inequalities by supporting BAME communities to be more active and building resilience in response to COVID-19.

The year 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday. Where do we want to be by 2024? What’s our ambition and what will be different? Find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision