The University is proud to have a formal working arrangement with Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading independent race equality think tank. Claire Alexander, Professor of Sociology, within our School of Social Sciences, has been working in partnership with Runnymede to influence government policy on the teaching of diverse British histories in the national curriculum, as representative cultural diversity and multiculturalism is often not taught well in schools.

Building on her work, Claire and Runnymede have been working on a project with Church of England Schools to explore the teaching of the partition of India, especially pertinent as 2017 marks the 70^th anniversary of the creation of India, Pakistan and later Bangladesh.

The Partition Project, with a small contribution of funding from the University, worked closely with Sudha Bhuchar, actor and co-founder of Tamasha Theatre Company, to stage her award-winning play, Child of the Divide, in a number of Manchester schools in October 2016 as part of Black History Month. This led to a presentation in the House of Lords earlier this year which has meant the Partition Project has been successful in gaining grants from the Arts Council and Kirby Laing Foundation to roll out the play and accompanying educational materials on a national tour this autumn.

If you would like to go and see what has been described as a very moving and thought provoking play, further information and dates can be found on the Bhuchar Boulevard website.

Details of other activities taking place in Manchester to mark the 70^th anniversary of partition, including the ‘Memories of Partition’ exhibition at Manchester Museum, can be found on our South Asia art and culture programme.