Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust celebrates Black History Month

Walsall Teaching Primary Care Trust (Walsall tPCT) has been celebrating the diversity of culture and history in support of Black History Month (BHM). The main event, which was held on the 18 October 2006 at Jubilee House, proved to be a huge success with a range of presentations and activities running throughout the day. 

Paul Jennings, Chief Executive of Walsall tPCT said: “Black History Month provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the diversity of culture and history in Walsall. In Walsall PCT we always look forward to a month of celebration to mark this important event. “

Claudette Dennis, one of the organisers of BHM said: “It has been a great success. People who I’ve spoken to said they’ve seen and heard a lot about African Caribbean food but never tried it before.  It was interesting listening to the storyteller and having a go at the accent.”

Black History Month is run every October and staff come together to celebrate and share African and Caribbean history. It’s all about promoting awareness of black history and the contributions African and Asian people have made locally, nationally and internationally. It gives people the opportunity to learn about other cultures and history and through doing that promotes a better acceptance and acknowledgement of both the similarities and differences between the different values and cultures of the people we live alongside in what is now a multi-cultural society.

The event on 18 October showcased a huge range of cultural books and African and Caribbean artefacts for staff to look at and purchase. There were trays of traditionally cooked African Caribbean food giving staff the chance to give their taste buds something new to try. Stories from an African Caribbean Storyteller went down a treat with many laughs as staff tried to imitate the accent.  Anthropologist and Black Poet Laureate Roy Kwabena finished off the day by using the drums to create some musical beats.

Nanette Grant, Head of Equality & Diversity, said: “I recently commenced employment with tPCT and have arrived during a period of excitement and celebration of Black History Month. It is an absolute pleasure to see and hear the acknowledgement of all the different cultures that make our society what it is. Equality and Diversity is about celebrating difference to ensure that all staff and service users are treated fairly and respectfully regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion / belief or sexual orientation. Within the tPCT we will be working together to embed these values and ensure equality and fairness become the working culture”.

24 October 2006 marks the end of Black History Month for Walsall tPCT but the celebrations continue at The Drum in Birmingham City Centre until December this year.