So far this academic year, we have celebrated and commemorated several EDI days and weeks. Our big event in the Autumn term was our Black History Month celebration, which took place in October. To honor the event, some departments created displays and set tasks in the curriculum to consider and commemorate the contributions of people from the BAME community in their subject or in wider cultural studies. We held an Open Mic Event, which was a talent competition with a £50 prize for the winner, hosted and awarded by Nate Ethan, Britain’s first trans rapper. Our winner was the amazing Salome Garacho, and all the contestants were fantastic, demonstrating how lucky we are to have such talented students.
Departments have selected which events they will celebrate and commemorate, and so far this academic year, we have recognized World Mental Health Day, All Hallows’ Eve / Halloween, All Saints’ Day, Anti-Bullying Week, Disability Awareness Month, World AIDS Day, International Human Rights Day, and Christmas.
This term, the focus has been on LGBTQIA History Month, which was in February, and currently Women’s History Month, which is in March, as well as International Women’s Day. For these events, we ran a poetry competition (LGBTQIA Month) – the winner was a fabulous poem by Hermione Phelan – and a celebration and bake sale by the LGBTQIA society, which took place on 28 February. Other celebrations include our prayer event for Ramadan (1-30 March) and our well-being events, as well as Transgender Visibility Day (31 March), when we have the privilege of having Jessica Lynn, a transgender international speaker, back to enjoy coffee and cake with students and staff who want to participate. We have also set up a regular monthly event called “Rainbow Café” (31 March, 30 April, 21 May, and 25 June), which is a safe space for members and allies of the LGBTQIA community to meet, chat, and have the opportunity to eat delicious cakes made by our resident bakers to raise money for TNB Connect, a local charity working with the LGBTQIA community. We also look forward to more well-being pop-up sessions for students to come and do relaxing activities to alleviate stress and anxiety. More information about those will be released soon!
Looking ahead to the summer term, we will be celebrating the end of the academic year with our Big Summer Send-Off, which will be an opportunity for staff and students to celebrate the culture of the college and look forward to a well-earned summer break.
