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Black History Month: how to celebrate and why it matters  

Published: 16 Oct 2023

Advert for a Working Families blog - Black History Month: How to celebrate and why it matters

For organisations that want to achieve true inclusivity, Black History Month is an important event for the calendar. Not only does it help Black team members feel more comfortable bringing their whole selves to work by demonstrating that their employer cares about and celebrates their culture, it can also create space for conversations about race and help support an organisation’s anti-discrimination objectives.  

And Black history is British history, a great opportunity for us all to learn. The valuable contributions of Black Britons have helped shape our culture, expanded our knowledge and understanding in science and technology, and advanced the pursuit for equality in the UK.  

Here at Working Families, we have been thinking about how to be better allies all-year round, not just for the month of October. Our Ambassador Elliott Rae’s powerful work around being an ally of women has helped inspire us that allyship is not just a word, but an action. We recognise the work that we still have to do, and the learning journey that we have just begun. 

If you want to celebrate Black History Month at work, here’s some ideas to get you started. 

Share the learning 

  • At Working Families this year, we’ll be raising awareness, through sharing facts about Black History Month and the brilliant people and significant events we all should know more about.  

Invite a guest speaker or attend a webinar or event

  • Activists, thought-leaders, or historians are experts in the field, and can share their knowledge and insights at workshops, talks or panel discussions.  

Spread the word 

  • Working Families will be sharing knowledge with our team about Black History Month events in our local areas, Black businesses to support, and inspiring Black literature to read.    

Enter a poetry competition

  • Put pioneering Black women who can inspire future generations into a poem for the National Black History Poetry Competition.

Cook and eat!  

  • Ask people to share recipes or seek some out for everyone to try.  

Volunteer for Black-led charities and non-profit organisations. 

  • Use volunteer days or team-building days to volunteer at charities that focus on Black communities or addressing race inequality.  

Think beyond Black History Month  

  • Reflect on your DE&I efforts more generally. Are you promoting diversity as an organisation? How are you fostering inclusivity in your workplace? Can you make your recruitment process more inclusive? At Working Families we are using recruitment platforms that are focused on addressing representation, promoting diversity and reducing bias. Speak to your employees and see if they’re willing to share how they think you could improve as an organisation.  

Become a Working Families member 

If you would like to ensure you’re an organisation whose flexible and family-friendly practices work for everyone, why not consider a membership with Working Families? As a member you’ll be equipped with the right tools and policies, as well as have the experts on your side, to put people at the core of your organisation.