Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Calendar 2026

Monthly News - October 2026

Black History Month

Black History Month is often associated with Windrush and post-war migration. Yet the history of Black people in Britain spans at least two millennia. From Roman Britain to modern universities, understanding that longer story helps us better understand who we are today and whose contributions have shaped the society we share.

By the eighteenth century, London is thought to have been home to one of the largest Black populations in Britain. Black communities were established around the docks, shipping districts and commercial centres that connected Britain to Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas. Their presence reflected both Britain's dependence on global trade and the human cost of an economic system in which slavery played a central role.

The wealth generated by the slave trade helped shape many of Britain's major cities. At the same time, Black people themselves became part of the social, cultural and economic life of those places. The histories of London, Liverpool, Bristol, Cardiff and other port cities cannot be fully understood without acknowledging both the exploitation of African people through slavery and the enduring contribution of Black communities who lived, worked and built lives there.

The UK's Black History Month was founded in 1987 by Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, a Ghanaian-born community leader working in London. He was inspired by a colleague whose young son asked a heartbreaking question: "Why can't I be white?".

Having seen the transformative effect that learning African history could have on young people, Addai-Sebo worked with partners across London to establish a national celebration of Black history and achievement. October was deliberately chosen to coincide with the start of the academic year and maximise educational engagement among children and young people.

So Black History Month began with a simple but profound idea: people cannot value a history they are never taught.

What this month means to me:

None of this history is obscure. It is documented. Yet most of us were never taught it.
I learned about the Romans at school, but not about the Aurelian Moors (the "first recorded African community in Britain"). The Roman Empire often appears in the curriculum as a story of roads, engineering and conquest, while the people who came from its African provinces disappear from view.

That is one of the gaps Black History Month seeks to address.
The month reminds us that Black history in Britain is not a story of recent arrival, but one of continuous presence. From Roman Britain to Tudor England, from the docks of London, Bristol, Liverpool and Cardiff to the NHS, Black people have been part of this country's story for centuries.

At the same time, history reminds us that presence has not always meant belonging. The Windrush scandal showed how easily rights and recognition can be questioned, even after decades of contribution and service. It is a reminder that inclusion cannot be assumed; it must be protected.

It means celebrating achievement while acknowledging the work that remains.
And it means remembering that a month of events is not enough on its own. Real change happens through opportunity, representation, mentorship, research, leadership and who gets a seat at the table.

October is when we tell the story.

The other eleven months are when we find out whether anyone was listening.

Nthabiseng, Lecturer

2026 calendar

Our EDI calendar can help create an inclusive work and study environment, it can also inspire students, staff and visitors to take part in key celebrations and/or remembrance events.

The calendar highlights faith days observed or celebrated, key diversity days, awareness raising dates and public holidays.

It also focuses on the six main religions as identified in the Census of England and Wales; Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, All other religions and beliefs not included on the calendar are equally as valued and considered across our work.

Please note: The dates in the calendar were correct at the time of publication in April 2026.

To provide feedback on the calendar, please contact [email protected]