The University of Bedfordshire is proud to mark Black History Month 2025 with a wide range of activities recognising and celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of the Black community.

This year’s celebrations follow the University’s achievement of the Bronze Award in the Race Equality Charter (REC) – a significant milestone that reflects its ongoing commitment to advancing race equality and fostering an inclusive environment for students and staff. To celebrate the month, the University is welcoming former England cricketer Roland Butcher - the first Black player to represent the national team - on Tuesday 21 October where he will be reflecting on his pioneering career and experiences in and around the game.

This is open to the public, as well as students and staff. You can register for free tickets by clicking online. On Wednesday 22 October, colleagues from the University’s branch of UNISON have arranged a special event where Antonia Bright – the UNISON Black women members representative in the National Executive Council (NEC) – will share her thoughts on her journey - to the NEC - what it means to represent Black women members, her priorities for equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplaces and communities, and the significance of Black History Month in her work.

Alongside University-led activity, the Students’ Union has organised an exciting programme of events for students throughout the month, including:

Wednesday 1 October – Nigerian Independence Day Celebration. From 9am-5pm, the Metro Bar & Kitchen on the Luton Campus will be decorated with bunting and displays to celebrate Nigerian Independence Day

Monday 6 - Friday 10 October – Film screening of Small Axe by Steve McQueen. Daily screenings at 3pm in The Metro, sharing stories from London’s West Indian community

Thursday 16 October – Black History Month Gala. A celebration of culture, fashion, and music from 5pm–11pm in The Metro, featuring food, performances, and a DJ set

Monday 20 October – Film screening of Hidden Figures, the acclaimed film spotlighting the contributions of Black female mathematicians at NASA will be shown in The Metro from 5pm.

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