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Throughout October, teams across P3 have come together to celebrate Black History Month, taking time to learn, share and reflect on the stories, achievements and ongoing experiences of Black people, both past and present. From powerful discussions and shared learning to food, music and film, our colleagues have embraced this opportunity to connect and celebrate culture in meaningful ways. Whether through exploring the roots of Black music, learning about regional cooking and enjoying conversation in our accommodation services or taking part in a team quiz that brought people together across services, every activity has helped spark awareness and strengthen our sense of community. This month has been about recognising history, celebrating identity and continuing our journey toward greater understanding and inclusion: values that lie at the heart of everything we do at P3.
Here’s a look at how some of our teams marked the month and what they learned along the way:
P3’s culture is founded in mutual respect and inclusion, and our new Lunch and Learns – informal workshops held over lunchtime, where we share food, experiences and knowledge to mark significant awareness days – are the perfect environment to ask questions, learn about other cultures and be open to the experiences of others.
This month, our People and Culture Administrator Yolanda Malupiya did an amazing job of running our latest session, giving a presentation surrounding this year’s Black History Month theme of Standing Firm in Power and Pride. Yolanda gave an overview of the people who helped establish Black History Month in the UK, spoke about Black figures who have shaped popular culture and went into detail about her own journey to the UK from Malawi. Afterwards, she led a short quiz and shared one of her favourite foods from home – Mandasi – a snack made from fried dough and coated in sugar.
Yolanda said: “For me Black History Month isn’t just about looking back, it’s about looking forward and recognising the resilience and the strength that Black people have carried throughout the years. For me, this month is to celebrate and recognise that and also to educate people that Black History Month isn’t just about talking about the struggles and trauma, but the excellence and all the great things.
Personal for me, Black History Month is about migration – my family coming from Malawi – it’s about bringing your culture, your food, your music that you carry from home.”
Talking about the event itself, Yolanda added: “[My presentation was] a great opportunity to educate people on Black History Month, including myself, learning about what Black History Month is, but also how it came about.”
Capturing the day on film, Sylex Borja, Content and Brand Co-ordinator for P3 Charity, who is also a part of P3 Charity’s EDI Steering Group, added: “It was great to take part in Yolanda’s Lunch and Learn for Black History Month. She connected Black history and culture to her own lived experience, creating an engaging and celebratory space for learning. Capturing events like this is a real highlight of my role at P3; they reflect the sense of community and togetherness that shows why inclusion truly matters.”
At P3, we’re grateful to have a group of colleagues who not only get involved but are eager to learn more as part of our EDI initiatives. A big part of our work culture is about celebrating diversity, amplifying underrepresented voices and continuously learning from one another: values we’re proud to highlight during Black History Month and beyond.
Across P3, teams have been reflecting, learning and coming together to celebrate Black History Month, recognising the importance of understanding the past while continuing to build an inclusive future.
This month, our colleagues in Coventry, Jade Kinch, Tenancy Support Worker, and Walden Grant, Support Worker, took time to reflect on how we can recognise both the positive contributions and the difficult realities that Black people have faced throughout history. They wanted to help create more opportunities for everyone in their team to learn, reflect and celebrate the richness of Black culture. This included a series of short, true-story videos on BBC Bitesize that share powerful and sometimes challenging stories – the kind that help us all understand the lived experiences of Black communities, both past and present. Jade and Walden felt that this type of honest and thought-provoking content could really help shape the way we approach anti-racism learning and training across P3 in the future.
To bring colleagues together locally, the P3 Coventry team also watched Hidden Figures – a film that captures both the struggles and successes of Black people in history and reminds us why representation matters. The film was chosen for its showcasing of historical impact and advocacy, as well as being an engaging and emotional film. Swooping three awards at the African-American Film Critics Association Awards, the film was a perfect choice to celebrate black excellence.
Later in October, Jade and Walden also attended The Coventry Building Society’s Black History Month event to share ideas and explore potential opportunities for future collaboration. They said it was great to attend external events, where wider learning can be brought back and shared by colleagues.
Jade explained that she and Walden deliberately chose videos showcasing both the positive and challenging experiences of Black people in the UK, ensuring that everyone across our organisation can engage with and learn more about Black history and culture.
Across our P3 accommodation services, teams have been finding creative ways to bring Black culture to life and celebrate the rich diversity within our communities.
Our P3 team in Rotherham took a musical approach, spending time exploring different genres that have deep roots in Black history. From gospel and jazz to reggae, soul and hip-hop, the people we work alongside heard from songs they know and love, as well as new ones. These sessions opened thoughtful discussions about how music has been used as a form of expression, protest and empowerment throughout generations.
Likewise, Matt Gasside, Head of Support and Community Services in Gloucestershire shared with his team what Black music means to him as part of their Black History Month celebrations.
He said: “My older cousin was into reggae. He dialled me into jungle for the first time. Oh my gosh, this was it – I had found my music! Communities who suddenly found themselves in damp cold UK cities, sadly subjected to racism and injustice, would gather together to enjoy the sounds from home. Reggae was the father and jungle was the son; jungle was the UK sound – this was our sound and something to be proud of!
I went off to uni in Birmingham to study Sound Engineering and immediately blew my student loan on my first set of decks and a jungle vinyl collection. I started as a DJ at student nights and mates’ parties. [This developed further], because I blew my loan. The shop I worked in sold tickets to the Que Club, so we were on the guestlist and attended religiously every weekend to see legends in the scene.
I moved back to Cheltenham and quickly set up my first event with some friends in 2001 and it’s been running ever since: 24 years of jungle and D-and-B events in Gloucestershire. It’s been going so long, we have a community based around the events: best friends who I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for the music. We continue to champion diversity and inclusivity at our events.
In 2020, we set up a reggae Soundsystem; we have three selectors – one is me. This summer I was honoured to share a stage with David Rodigan, MBE, and last summer Don Letts. Playing on a small stage at Glastonbury this year was another highlight: a time for reflection on the last 24 years and what the music means to me.
Last weekend we played at a charity event. We were asked to play a Black history inspired heritage reggae set. It was great to see such a diverse audience really getting into it and listening carefully to our tune selection.”
Meanwhile, in Derbyshire, the team brought everyone together through a county-wide Black History Month quiz, sparking curiosity, connection and friendly competition while deepening understanding of Black heritage and achievements. Moments like this show how celebrating culture in everyday ways helps us all to grow, building empathy, awareness and inclusion as part of our ongoing EDI journey at P3, all year round.
As Black History Month draws to a close, we’re reminded that celebrating culture and championing diversity is a year-round commitment. Through our EDI initiatives, we aim to recognise and honour the many cultures, faiths and lived experiences of our colleagues, the people we work alongside and wider communities across the country.
By learning from one another and creating space for open, respectful conversations, P3 continues to grow as an organisation that values inclusion, equity and belonging every day of the year. To find out more about our EDI journey, we’d love for you to get in touch: info@p3charity.org
