Sutton Black History Group
It has been another rewarding but hardworking year. SBHG has seen different challenges during 2011. I am pleased to report however, that our proactive approach has led to some key/great achievements this year
I am also proud of all that SBHG has achieved during the year and I continue to be excited to be part of such a visionary and committed group of vibrant people who are all striving for the same goal.
With my fellow members of the Steering group, I value the way in which our group continues to enhance and develop. We have increased our public and citizens presence and this is a crucial part of our strategy.( As you will see further in the report).
Events such as the Carshalton Festival have brought in more interest and has also brought together members in a more positive and productive way.
The development of our Social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter link has also given us a more public facing presence, which will hopefully increase the public’s understanding of the role of our group whilst building better partnerships within the community.
This year we generated media coverage reaching a wider range of people across the six wards of Sutton Borough and across the border with Epsom, Wallington, Merton and Croydon.
By continuing to look for additional funding to enable us to maximize our Black History Celebrations programmes, in the venues we chose, we hopefully demonstrated a commitment to equality, diversity, lifelong learning and community cohesion.
Our group has had some tricky decisions and actions to contend with plus minor conflicts/ challenges but such is the nature of group life. Celebrating Black History as well as supporting new members remains the cornerstone of our existence and we hope to see many more of our audience and members in 2012.
Finally, in my two years as Chair, I have enjoyed my relationships with other members, volunteers and colleagues in partner agencies and I would like to end by saying Best Wishes and well done to everyone from speakers to performers to volunteers but mostly to our the Steering group members who did such a fantastic job again this year.
Feedback from Events
Our planned programme this year was intergenerational in concept and had? 10 events, each event were evaluated by members of the public. These evaluations provides us with crucial information and feedback about who we are reaching in or from the community, and also gives us an opportunity to look at who else we need to reach and what further work we may need to do.
Our findings show overwhelmingly great success and benefits for parents, school children and young people and adults who had filled out the forms. These findings and outcomes are not only very positive but they contribute towards improving better outcomes for all.- more confident children who will hopefully do better at school, in the community, have developed improved social skills and also expanded their historical/cultural knowledge of black people and our heritage.
By celebrating Black History across the borough we demonstrated our commitment to equality and diversity also lifelong learning. We were able to demonstrate Sutton`s own connection with the slave trade. Our analysis is based on the completed questionnaire which was handed out at each event.
The Launch and Finale both held in the Sutton Life Centre, were excellent events which took considerable planning to get the right balance. At each of these the atmosphere was electrifying and provided a platform for local school children to take part in singing and through a variety of dance styles. As you will see from the pictures taken we had a range of colourful, vibrant and entertaining performances, plus stalls from local statutory and voluntary groups.
Speakers: The Mayor gave us a potted history of culture in Mauritius his home country. We were very honoured to also have two very noteworthy speakers- Andrew Mohammed and Robin Walker, both historians on Black History and though using different styles were able to inform, engage and captivate the audience on black achievement and history from pre Roman times to present day.
We were shown evidence of how black people impacted on the development of the Superman comics, film industry, architecture, higher levels of learning and wealth or trade. Andrew Mohammed gave a very motivational talk on black achievement/history and racism. He emphasised on how the lack of self belief and esteem were contributory factors in the under-achievement of many black pupils in our schools today. Research has shown us that historically school performance among black boys from the African- Carribbean area have been the lowest. Although this is a multi-faceted complex issue, self esteem, behaviour management and low expectations do certainly contribute to high levels of exclusion and disaffection.
This was particularly relevant in view of the August riots where we saw the outcome of disaffected young people of all ethnicity and ages.
In 2011 we had regular monthly meetings mostly held at the Civic Centre but several in other venue e.g. Strawberry Lodge who kindly offered us room and hospitality. Many thanks to all the regular attendees and guest speakers who gave up their time to make events interesting and assisted with our decisions and planning.
Membership: We have a clear strategy but poor financial and membership strength, so we are seeking growth and improvements over the next two years to bring in new resources , experiences and skills. Our goal remains unchanged-to grow member value, SBHG attracted this year two young members whose service proved invaluable in practical terms. In terms of diversity- we have 3 male and 5 female members on the steering group, and from ethnicity our membership covers, English, Jamaican, Barbadian, Dominican, Nigerian, Ghanaian, Ugandan and from St.Vincent.
In spite of some efforts to recruit and sustain more members we still need additional members who can genuinely help our cause and continued success. It still feels at times that much is being done by the same few people. If you are on our circulation list, please consider what help you can give us for 2012.
Key success Factors
- We gained the support of the mayor of Sutton, who attended both the Launch and Finale
- we engaged with local schools through the schools’ competition and enjoyed the youthful voices of the Sutton Girls school choir at the Launch
- A broad participation of respectable local role models represented by African and Caribbean communities was a welcome addition to this year’s celebrations.
- The theme and topics chosen for this year’s celebrations were tailored to reach the audience who are mainly the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow, encouraging them to look up to historic leaders of the past.
Programme Achievements
BHM Sutton achieved a great deal and this was celebrated in all forms of activities that took place in October. The increased response of these events and the feedback received has suggested that the events:
- Gave people a sense of belonging, encouraging them to come together to promote growth and a support network.
- Black History Month served as a glue in bringing people from various backgrounds even when cultures differed, they felt they were given the opportunity to celebrate their similarities and appreciate their differences.
- Increased participation in all events organised.
- Increased attendance at Launch event and Finale at the Sutton Life Centre.
- Higher turnout at literary event held at Cheam Library hosted by Councillor Lester Holloway
- Film Screenings at Wallington Library
- Book Launch by M. J. Maher, local author of ‘Racism and Diversity’
Coming Events
Day trip to Liverpool Slavery Museum - 31st March 2012
The Sutton Black History Group is organising a day trip to the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool on Saturday 31st March.
As you know, Liverpool is the cultural city of Europe and apart from the Slavery Museum there are many other interesting venues to access such as Merseyside Maritime Museum and Museum of Liverpool.
To book your tickets, please confirm by email to veronicaewilliams@hotmail.com by the 30th March, 2012.
The Imagine Festival -17th June, 2012
The Festival is all about celebrating and participating in the arts and giving opportunities for local people in Sutton to take part in art and cultural activities. The festival's diverse programme of events takes place across the borough in venues such as theatres, heritage venues and libraries. The Imagine Festival is funded by the Sutton council.
The IMAGINE Festival aims to support local talent and broaden the community's participation with the arts, reach new audiences and create new working partnerships.
Sutton Black History Group as part of the Imagine festival will be showcasing steel pan music on Trinity Square.
Steel Pans are musical instruments created in the Caribbean island republic of Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930’s. They belong to the percussion family of instruments (instruments that are struck or shaken), are made from 55 gallon (oil) drums and come in a variety of musical ranges. When played collectively, they are called a Steel Band (steel drum band).
There will be an opportunity for taster sessions on the day and enthusiasts will have a chance to try their hands at playing the drum. This is also an opportunity to highlight the music and rhythmic sounds of the Caribbean.
VENUE: Trinity Square, Sutton
Date: Sunday, 3rd June, 2012
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Join Sutton Black History Group in Celebrating Imagine Festival in the Community.
The Jubilee Celebrations - July 2012
The theme for our event from a Black History perspective is to link the diamond jubilee with the Her Majesty's role as head of the Commonwealth. We hope to hold an exhibition of still images from the various members of the Commonwealth and perhaps run a feature or documentary film on the Queen and the Commonwealth. We believe this will be very educative for all members of the community since all the members of the Commonwealth previously belonged to the Empire.
We are currently researching for information from the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Royal Commonwealth Society for material resources to make this event a success.
We believe that, this theme runs through most of the activities taking place in the UK this summer, ie, the Queen's diamond jubilee, the Olympics and Black History Month.
Watch this Space for further Information for Event Dates, Venue and Times.
