Bitesize Black History for Cornwall

The teaching of Black History is so crucial in all our schools. Many schools teach the iconic black notable figures from history such as Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks but this is often as far as it goes. With all good intentions, schools choose to teach the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, but sadly this is taught insensitively due to a lack of understanding of the impact this has on children of colour.

Black Voices Cornwall want to address these issues and provide quality, bitesize lessons that are easy for teachers to deliver and can fit into the constraints of very busy class timetables. We are working tirelessly to have these materials ready to be delivered in all educational establishments in Cornwall for this October 2020. 

Yikes, we don't have long but we can do it!!!!!!!

We understand that school budgets are very stretched, therefore, to make this accessible to all children/students we are offering our packages to all education establishments FREE OF CHARGE.

WHO ARE WE?

Black Voices Cornwall (BVC) started after the death of George Floyd and a small group of us met through the BLM protests in Truro, Cornwall. We have formed into a company limited by guarantee with charitable aims.

Our mission statement is:

BVC exists to enable Cornwall to become an actively anti-racist county. We will bring increased awareness and empowerment through Communication, Education and Unification.

We are 'An inclusive voice for all ethnicities'.

Our organisation is growing in number daily with many passionate volunteers joining us to help us to achieve our 10 aims. We have already established positive, professional relationships with a range of organisations including: Cornwall Council, Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Museums Partnerships, Inclusion Cornwall, Cornwall Equalities and Diversity Network and many others.

OUR CURRICULUM PACKAGES

We want all children to increase their knowledge and understanding of black history and how education is important to tackle and eradicate racism. 

Key Stage 1/Lower Key Stage 2: Marcus and Peanut puppets will create puppet video clips to teach about black inspirational leaders. The lessons will have the thread of treating everyone with respect.

Key Stages 2,3 and 4: We will provide a series of short lessons to teach about black inspirational leaders and the impact they have had on society. We will provide material for those known and not as well known, both international, national and home-grown from the South West, form the past and present day.

Primary Bonus Package: Music is an amazing tool for teaching history. Our music specialist has created lessons of cultural songs which primary age children can learn with ease.

Further Education and Higher Education: our SPARKS lessons will provide provocations for young adults to explore different types of racism and how we can tackle it and move towards eradicating it.

THE EDUCATION TEAM

Hi, my name is Helen Hutchinson, I am honoured to be an Executive Director of Black Voices Cornwall Ltd and the Education Lead.  I am a teacher by profession. Over 30 years I have been a class teacher, subject leader of many subjects, Year group leader, Deputy Head and Head Teacher. I am currently a Freelance Educator and I have my own education business, TUPIC, which stands for To Unlock Potential in Children.

     Dr Angeline Morrison is a vocalist, composer, writer, academic and scholar. She has published many pieces of writing about race, mostly in scholarly journals, and is currently writing more journalistic pieces about race for a forthcoming blog. Angeline has worked in universities as a lecturer at Degree and PostGraduate level for and is very familiar with the Higher Education environment and the deep structures within it that require sustained challenge and renewal.

Jo Alleyne works for the Country's largest organisations of its kind which works with young parents, children and babies in the most deprived areas of Cornwall. Jo is also the Founder of Peanut Puppets who will be supporting the education team in the delivery of their curriculum packages.

Hi, my name is Joyte Brown and I am delighted to be a member of the Black Voices Cornwall Ltd education team. I am a marketing manager for an events company and have several years working in education; as a lecturer at Truro and Penwith College, working with SEN children and through community projects: I am incredibly passionate about empowering young people and believe that education and empathy is key to create a healthy and happy society.

Dr Misri Dey is a Senior Lecturer at Falmouth University, teaching and writing on theatre to provoke and enable creative, social change. She campaigns actively as BAME officer for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle Constituency Labour Party and performs as a theatre activist and singer. 

Marcus Alleyne is one of Cornwall's most prominent Conductors. Working on the international concert stages he continues to bring music education to the County across a number of settings. Founder member and Communications Director of BVC, educator and former member of the Royal Navy.

BEYOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH & 

BEYOND CORNWALL

BVC believe that Black History should be embedded into the curriculum throughout the year and not only taught during Black History Month. Therefore, all the packages we are producing can be used at any point in the year. BVC will also be developing further curriculum packages with longer lessons covering all things race.

Although, we are rolling out our curriculum packages to Cornish schools for this Black History Month they can be made available to other counties as time goes on and funding allows.

PLEASE SUPPORT US

 Please help us raise the profile of Black History in schools and to provide materials so that it can be taught well. Help us get our resources into the 271 schools in Cornwall, in the first instance. Help us reach and teach 1000’s of children and together go on to tackle and eradicate racism. For the full video click here