Salford Youth Zone came alive this week as young people, volunteers, and community partners gathered to celebrate Black History Month — a vibrant event highlighting the importance of unity, education, and cultural pride within Salford.
“We have tried to celebrate Black History Month throughout the whole of October at Salford Youth Zone for our senior and junior members,” said Youth Zone worker, Alex Sotirios.
“We’re trying to build a stronger sense of community in Salford. It’s important for young people to recognise the significance of their local Black community, and the wider one too.”
The event, filled with activities, performances, and learning opportunities, reflected the national theme of celebrating Black culture and heritage, but with a distinctly Salford identity. Staff emphasised that the celebration was about creating a safe, welcoming space for young people to express themselves and learn about diversity.
“We want all of our members to feel safe, welcome, celebrated, and educated, at the moment, with everything going on in the world, it’s so important that everyone in our community feels valued.”
Across the month, Salford Youth Zone transformed into a hub of creativity. Children and teenagers joined in African drumming workshops, hairstyling tutorials, and dance performances, all designed to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Black culture in ways that young people could experience firsthand.
“Our amazing youth workers pulled some really exciting activities out of the bag, one of our volunteers, Kayode, runs African drum performances and workshops. He and his team put on an interactive session; it was the highlight of the day-the energy was incredible.”
The day also featured health and wellbeing workshops, where young people learned the cultural and practical value of protective hairstyles. These hands-on sessions empowered attendees to take pride in their heritage while developing practical life skills.
“A couple of girls came in to teach the kids how to braid their hair and why protective hairstyles matter, we’ve got a salon in the Youth Zone, but this gave them a chance to learn the skill themselves — to go home and look after their hair.”
The celebration wasn’t just about learning, it was about joy. The event included a silent disco and a mocktail station, with ingredients kindly donated by Flight Club, giving the young people a chance to unwind and have fun in a safe, inclusive space.
“It was really uplifting and light-hearted,” they said. “We had dancers, songs, and even goodie bags for the kids to take home. It was a big celebration.”
Through the laughter, rhythm, and community spirit, the event at Salford Youth Zone captured the essence of Black History Month — a reminder that celebrating Black heritage isn’t just about the past, but about inspiring the next generation to be proud of who they are.
“We want Salford Youth Zone to be a hub of community,” Alex concluded. “A place where young people feel celebrated, safe, and inspired to learn new things.”
As October draws to a close, Salford’s celebration stands as a testament to the city’s diversity and its commitment to inclusion, ensuring that the message of Black History Month continues to echo well beyond its final day.