Each year, the month of October is celebrated as Black History Month (BHM) in the UK; the purpose of this being to recognise and celebrate the achievement of Black people in the UK and across the world. This year, to mark the start of BHM 2019, University of Manchester President and Vice Chancellor – Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell – accompanied by other senior University Leadership Team members, staff and students marked the University’s support of this celebration by participating in a photoshoot under the University’s Whitworth arch.

Berrisford Edwards, Co-Chair of the BAME Staff Network, commented: “Combined with the funding of the University’s flagship BHM 2019 event Brilliant and Black is a powerful show of support by the University’s leadership team, publicly demonstrating the University’s continued support for and leading on the advancement of equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education.”

October 18, 2019 was marked as “Wear Red Day” to show support to the Show Racism the Red Card campaign in England and Wales. The University’s staff and students showed solidarity with this cause by meeting up and participating in a group photo at the John Owens Building front quad. This is a further demonstration of the University’s commitment to equality and leading on tackling social issues.