Black History Month 2025

Black History Month 2025: Power and Pride

This year’s theme for Black History Month is ‘Standing firm in power and pride’ with the aim to acknowledge and celebrate those in the Black community who have led political, social and civic movements and who have broken down barriers. We’re also celebrating Black cultural identity, heritage, and excellence.

As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we have decided to share organisations that have paved the way for the Black community in the VAWG sector, as well as local organisations that celebrate Black culture and heritage.

Southall Black Sisters

Since 1979, the Southall Black Sisters have done pioneering work in supporting Black and minoritised women in the UK, including leading campaigns on securing leave to remain rights for migrant women in abusive relationships.
They provide a specialist by and for Black and minoritised domestic abuse service in West London, and a national forced marriage service.

Their director Selma Taha has played a pivotal role in our understanding of the VAWG sector and Black experiences through the anti-racism working group that she co-founded. You can read more about her insights in an interview she did with Respect last year: Black History Month: Selma Taha | Respect

Imkaan

Imkaan is the UK’s only national feminist umbrella organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and minoritised women and girls.

Launched in 2004, their focus is on increasing awareness and understanding of how VAWG affects Black and minoritised women, conducting research and leading advocacy around this area. Their policy work has developed the Imkaan Accredited Quality Standards framework for specialist services for Black and minoritised women focusing on harmful practices, which is now a benchmark for practice across the sector. They have also developed Safe Minimum Practice Standards to improve safeguarding at a grassroots level.

Croydon BME

Established 22 years ago, the Croydon BME Forum gives a voice to Black and minoritised groups in the area. They aim to maximise the engagement of BME communities in Croydon by engaging people, building capacity, and promoting equality and cohesion. The forum leads advocacy work in various areas and ensures that BME communities are involved in local policy and decision making. They additionally run mental and physical health programmes, and a number of Windrush Programmes, supporting those affected by the Windrush scandal.

BCWA worked with Croydon BME Forum a few years ago through our Breaking Down Barriers project where we developed a strategy to improve BAME women and children’s access to domestic abuse support.

Croydon BME Forum are leading the Black History Month celebrations in our area, and to find events in Croydon taking place this month you can visit their website.

Hersana

Hersana is a specialist organisation that provides safe spaces for Black femmes (designed by Black femmes) who have been subject to or affected by gender-based violence. Their services are culturally specific and trauma-informed, centring Black experiences and identities in their work.

The organisation was founded in 2016 by Christabel Yeboah, with the aim to address the systemic barriers faced by Black women who have faced gender-based violence. They trace back their beginnings to the AskFirst campaign which focused on healthy relationships and the diversity of experiences of those who had been affected by abuse. Since then, Hersana has significantly grown their services and advocacy programmes, and remain steadfast in their commitment to address injustice and shape policies affecting the lives of Black survivors.