October is Black History Month and the Council is asking primary and secondary school students to send it their thoughts on what the month means to them.

Students can write a story, a poem, a blog or send in a photo: anything that shows what the month means to them. One entry each from a secondary and a primary school will be chosen to appear in the winter edition of the Bexley Magazine.

Black History Month is chance to celebrate and promote black history, culture and heritage. It is also a chance to share information about the positive black contributions to British history.

As well as offering the chance for the borough’s young people to get involved, Bexley libraries will be highlighting black authors with a collection of e-books on the Libby app.

The Community Partnership Group will share a number of videos made last year to recognise the importance of black heritage. The videos will be available through the Council’s social media and YouTube.

The Council’s own BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Equality) group will be working with local charities and hosting information sessions, quizzes, recipes blogs and presentations to raise awareness of the month.

Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Alex Sawyer said: “This has been a year like no other in so many ways. Incidents in the USA have brought the need for fairness and equality to the forefront of all our minds and made Black History Month more important than ever.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to get out and about and hold events this year, but it’s important that we mark the month as best we can under the circumstances.

“Our young people are our future and for this reason we want to hear what they have to say. Entries can be funny, sad, amusing, real or imaginary. We are looking forward to seeing their work.”

The school competition will be judged by Councillor Sawyer and the BAME network.

Submissions must be received by midnight on Saturday 31 October and should be no longer than 150 words. Photos should be JPG or PNG files.

Entries that are not chosen for the magazine could be used on the Council website or on the Council’s social media feeds.

Entries must include the young person’s full name, age, school and email address.

Entries should be emailed to culture@bexley.gov.uk

Competition rules –

Entries must be no longer than 150 words. Images must be jpg or png.

Please send them to culture@bexley.gov.uk  by midnight on 31 October 2020.

One entry from a secondary and one entry from a primary school will be chosen to appear in the winter 2020 edition of the Bexley Magazine.

If your entry is chosen, we will notify you by phone or e-mail.

The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into

By entering the competition, each entrant and school agrees to the use of their name and image and agrees to co-operate with related publicity or marketing.

The Council will use the names, ages and school names of the winners and the entries used as part of our London Borough of Bexley communications around Black History Month 2020.