Islington Council has formally opened its landmark Black Cultural Centre – a safe space for residents from Black African and Caribbean heritage to come together.
As part of its mission to tackle racism, injustice, and inequality in the borough, the council has created the centre on 16-18 Hornsey Road to provide opportunities for learning about Black history and culture, and to empower and uplift Islington’s Black community.
The opening of the centre comes after the council listened carefully to feedback from local people about the lack of provision for Black communities in the borough, and feedback from a public consultation has helped shape the centre’s offering.
During its first year, four different organisations will be based at the centre for three months at a time, to offer services and activities to Global Majority African and Caribbean communities.
- 1226 people attended the Black Cultural Centre
- 420 or 34% were Islington residents or worked/studied in Islington
- 934 or 76.1% were from the Black Community
We utilised presentations and film screenings to appeal to a wider audience. In these sessions, we offered practical knowledge about saving, budgeting, and investment to help individuals and families achieve financial stability. We provided education on managing debt, understanding credit, and building wealth to create long-term financial security. By focussing on the history of ‘Black Wall Street’, we educated the community on entrepreneurship, how to start a businesses and accessing funding opportunities empower budding entrepreneurs in the community.
We informed the community of the support available via Islington and the reduction in the membership fee for Islington residents / business owners to the Federation of Small Businesses which would equip residents with tools and networking opportunities to to establish and sustain small businesses. The offer of free Financial Planning services to residents as part of the Financial Education programme helped to reduce financial stress through education supports better mental and emotional wellbeing as we approached the festive period.
Working in partnership with Maxine Edgar of Bronze Ash Funerals, a Black-owned Funeral Director, to organise a presentation on end-of-life planning to provide a safe space for the community to talk about loss and grief without stigma. Many Black families avoid discussing funeral arrangements due to cultural taboos, leading to stress and financial strain when a loved one passes. This session provided practical guidance on how to prepare for end-of-life planning and reduce emotional and financial burdens. Informing the community that Black-owned, female-led funeral directors exist in the UK ensures that families can access services that respect their traditions and values. Many families struggle with unexpected funeral expenses, leading to financial instability. Providing education on the importance of life insurance and funeral plans helps families prepare in advance. In this session, we educated the audience about the importance of wills, estate planning, and legal documents needed to ensure a smooth transition of assets to reduce family disputes over inheritance and funeral arrangements by promoting proactive planning. People who attended had the opportunity to seek support and guidance from National Wills Team who provide estate planning solutions to the community. In this session, we provided a safe space for the community to talk about loss and grief without stigma, promoting mental health awareness by addressing the emotional impact of bereavement and signposting people to support networks in the community as listed on the Islington website https://www.islington.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health-services-in-islington/bereavement
Events such as the Windrush presentation and the audience with Alex Pascall brought together elders and younger generations to where they could share lived experiences of how they navigated adversity with resilience. The session with Alex Pascall educated the audience on the historical struggles of being Black in the media and the music industry and how to challenge racism and injustice in constructive ways.
We worked in partnership with Janelle Oswald who delivered Ital Yoga sessions at the Black Cultural Centre which have been attended by both men and women and young people on a Saturday morning. Ital Yoga incorporates African movement practices that enhance flexibility, muscle strength, and joint health, reducing the risk of injuries and chronic pain. African Yoga incorporates meditation, breathwork, and rhythmic movements that help calm the nervous system, reducing stress and anxiety. Unlike mainstream yoga practices, African Yoga is deeply rooted in African traditions and music allowing Black communities to connect with their heritage and to take part in wellness activities that reflect their cultural identity. Ital Yoga brings together people of all ages, allowing elders to share wisdom and experiences with younger generations in a nurturing and supportive environment
We worked in partnership with Genealogist Selena Carty to offer Genealogy workshops both online and at the Black Cultural Centre. Many Black individuals, particularly those from African and Caribbean backgrounds, experience disconnection from their ancestral roots due to African chattel enslavement (slavery), colonisation, and forced migration. Genealogy workshops help individuals trace their lineage, providing a sense of closure, healing, and empowerment by reconnecting with their ancestral past. Exploring family histories helps individuals understand their place in the world, reinforcing a sense of belonging and identity. By passing down ancestral knowledge, genealogy workshops ensure that future generations inherit cultural pride and historical awareness. Understanding one’s lineage encourages participants to preserve historical documents, oral histories, and artefacts, ensuring a rich legacy for Black communities. Selena Carty was able to give participants the tools to start their journey of discovery while showcasing the research that she has undertaken with her own family and providing ongoing support to delegates who need it.
We organised some Black History Children workshops and film screenings to encourage young people and their parents / guardians to use the space for learning. Due to short space in time, we are reaching out to local schools and networks to promote the centre and our offer to young people.
The Black History Workshops on Black History icons Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X provided a deeper understanding of Black History for parents and young people in a fun and engaging way using activities and media to promote pride and positive representation. Using the theme of leadership, the workshops bridged generational gaps by fostering discussions between parents and young people about shared histories and experiences. We encouraged the parents and young people to learn together with the hope of strengthening family bonds through collaborative learning and shared understanding. As Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey faced issues of systematic racism and discrimination, we were able to use the workshops to discuss these themes in a constructive and educational manner.
We also hosted the launch of the new business WOMANA Education Consultants CIC run by Denise Morrison, who is a London Metropolitan University alumni. They offer inspiring and motivating speeches, workshops and parenting support for university students on balancing work, home, and study life. The Black Cultural Centre was able to provide a platform for Black entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, leading to job creation and economic empowerment. Promoting Black-owned businesses strengthens local economies, ensuring that wealth circulates within the community and people can be supported through the service they offer. Hosting a business launch is more than just an event. it is an investment in the economic, social, and cultural well-being of Black communities. The business launch was well attended and new people who had not visited the centre before were introduced to the space.
We utilised presentations and film screenings to appeal to a wider audience. The films attracted a diverse audience with people who were trade unionists and activists in attendance. The Cashflow 101 game and the Don’t Spend the Parder workshop utilised a board game to teach financial education in a fun and interactive way.
In partnership with WD Legal Team, The Windrush Help Team and the Home Office, we hosted an event where people could attend to learn more about Windrush compensation and status schemes, gain information and support on legal status and compensation claim assistance for individuals who came to live in the UK before 31/12/1988. Attendees had the opportunity to book a free private 1 to 1 appointment with a member of the Home Office Windrush Engagement team to answer any questions they might have about their personal situation or a loved one in a safe environment. The event was well attended and people were able to learn about current developments such as the Windrush Act & Burning Work. Seema Maholtra, who is the Parliamentary Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship and the Mayor of Islington attended the event and made speeches on the night. This event helped to support individuals impacted by the Windrush scandal who have suffered emotional distress due to wrongful detentions, loss of employment and denied access to healthcare. This event helped people with the journey of healing and to gain a sense of justice. The event brought people together in a safe space, where they could share experiences and learn about the solutions being developed. The free one-to-one consultations helped people with the complexity of the windrush compensation scheme and help people secure compensation and documentation to ensure they regain their rightful status and legal protection.
We worked with Colin Brown to host an interactive 1970’s Lovers Rock Exhibition, the first exhibition to focus on the 1970s heady days of the reggae genre’s history. The exhibition highlighted both artists and bands who have so often been overlooked, and the most successful artists of the period, like Janet Kay of ‘Silly Games’ fame. The event was well attended and included a presentation on Lovers Rock and a film screening. The event promoted health and wellbeing as it provided a positive, uplifting cultural experience and showcased a musical history that instills pride and sense of belonging in the Black community. Engaging with the music allowed attendees to reconnect with joyful and nostalgic memories, promoting emotional wellbeing. Hosting the exhibition at the Black Cultural Centre offered a welcoming environment for cultural exchange.
During this period, Clifford hosted a Men’s Discussion group on Sexual Behaviour, worked with international speaker, health coach and author Imani Sorhaindo to host a session on Fibroids, qualified Trichologist Lorna Jones to host a session on hair loss and Majorie Grant to host a session on Menopause. These sessions we well attended and written feedback was obtained from the Fibroid session (see end of document). These events were very important as Black women feel isolated in their experiences with fibroids, menopause and hair loss due to stigma and silence around these issues. Hosting these events ensured that women (and the men who attended) could openly share their experiences without shame or anxiety. All the speakers were experts and could answer questions and offer consultations outside of the sessions.
