Thanks to money raised through the National Lottery, projects supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have been displaying, sharing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of black communities in Wales.

Projects like Life Venture Arts' Roots and Urban Circle Productions' Positive Identity have been busy researching, gathering stories and preparing to share what they have discovered during Black History Month:

• Life Venture Arts are working with volunteers and students to learn more about the South Wales 1919 race riots. The project involves local people, who are learning how to research their community history; and schools and community groups, who will be taking part in education workshops. During Black History Month, a four-part documentary that captures the riot journey will be broadcast on Made in Cardiff TV. You can find out more about the project on the Life Venture website.
• Urban Circle Productions are using the film ‘Nubian Spirit’ to help young people learn about ancient African culture. Young people involved in the project have been researching history, identifying local historical sites, interviewing local residents and creating a short film about what they have discovered. A short documentary film has been produced and will be screened in Newport on 31 October. Find out more about the film and the screening event on the Black History Month Wales website.
• Young people involved in the South East Wales Race Equality Centre (SEWREC) Back-a-yard project have been researching the history of Newport’s African-Caribbean community. Through a series of events, young people from the community have been interviewing and recording the memories of their elders. One of the interviews will be aired on BBC Radio Wales on Wednesday 21 October between 2.30 and 3.30pm. Read more on the project on the SEWREC website.

Many more projects are sharing their stories through a number of events during Black History Month, deatils are available on the Black History Month Wales website.  

We will also be running a workshop on 21 October 2015 in Colwyn Bay. Representing the contemporary diversity of heritage in the UK is a priority for HLF. This workshop provides an opportunity to find out more about our funding and ask questions about how you can apply. To book a place, please send us an email or call 029 2023 4142.