In the UK, Black History Month was first celebrated in London in 1987, as part of African Jubilee Year, when on October 1st, Dr Maulana Karenga from the US was invited to an event at County Hall to mark the contributions of black people throughout history. Addai-Sebo drew up a plan to recognise the contributions of African, Asian and Caribbean people to the economic, cultural and political life in the UK. Over time other parts of the UK began to formally institute October as Black History Month in the UK.

Black History month gives us the opportunity to focus on these important contributions and to learn more about the affect that they have had on our lives.

To celebrate we have been holding reminiscence sessions to discuss our memories and to learn more about black history, which is sadly lacking in our history books. We had some interesting discussions and read about the statue erected in Cardiff in honour of Betty Campbell, the country’s first black headteacher.

At the weekend we got together to celebrate all we had learned and all that has been achieved by the black community. We were treated to a special carnival dance performance from Inspire Urself. This carnival troupe is Nottingham's only national touring carnival troupe, giving young people opportunities to pursue their interests and passions in dance, carnival and fashion and costume design.

It was such a fantastic display, the music, the colours, the dancing. Every day should be carnival day. We watched intently, some of us dancing along. We drank some delicious tropical punch and munched on fruit kebabs. The weather wasn’t especially tropical, but it did stay dry and that is all we could have hoped for at this time of year.

Thank you to the lifestyle team for organising this, to the kitchen team for the punch and kebabs and to Inspire Urself, you are a truly inspirational bunch.