Exciting news! We’ve secured support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for our documentary project ‘Community: Becoming Black & British’!

Over the next three years, we’ll unite young people and industry experts to interview their elders, preserving their stories and contributions to UK society in a documentary film.

This documentary will focus on the 1970s to 2000, when the UK saw the emergence of Black community organisations that deeply enriched society. They emerged after the height of the civil rights struggle, led by volunteers who played a crucial role in empowering Black communities as they fought for access, participation and progress in the arts, education and sports.

Much of their work to teach, train and mentor their peers, and the generation below them, led to incredible achievements such as the creation of new Black British music genres, and people who went on to represent the country in athletics, and England in football, as did Ricky Hill, who will feature in this documentary. This work has successfully made our lives more inclusive at all levels today. Unfortunately, many of these organisations have since closed, and their contributions risk being forgotten. It is imperative to honour the courage and resilience of these children of the Windrush Generation.

Cecilia looks at what used to be the 510 Centre, a local community centre where she served her community for many years.

Participants will gain digital documentary-making skills by working with industry experts to collect and curate local community stories in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, and Liverpool. Culminating, in 2027, with a broadcast-quality documentary marking 220 years since the passing of the Slave Trade Act, platforming Black British voices and their positive contributions to UK society.

Behind the scenes!

The first part of the documentary which features organisations in Westminster and Brent, received a wonderful response when it was premiered at this year’s Triangle of Unity Festival in October. 2023.  We are now looking forward to taking the initiative to Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham and Liverpool in the future. Where we will be creating partnerships with community organisations to help us develop our documentary.

We would like to say a HUGE thank you to our first team of young people, including Summer Honey, Renee Thomas and Perise Campbell-Bailey for their commitment to the project, and what an incredible job they have done creating the first section of our documentary in Westminster and Brent.

This work is being made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.