John Lewis-University of Leicester Black History Month project wins award

A collaboration between the University of Leicester and the city’s John Lewis department store has received a Black History Month award.

The University and retailer joined forces for October’s national celebration of Black history, with a series of exhibits and performances in the Highcross shopping centre’s flagship store.

The initiative caught the eye of judges at the inaugural Black History Month 2024 Awards, held in Leicester by media company Pukaar Group, who awarded it the Special Events Award.

The collaboration recognised and celebrated the University’s Black history makers who have made a significant impact in Leicester and more widely, through featuring their stories as part of an exhibition in-store.

A series of information boards were featured in a dedicated window display throughout October, telling the stories of students, University staff and initiatives, including how Law students helped victims of the Windrush scandal and the appointment of Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock as Chancellor in 2023 – the University’s first female Chancellor and the first person from an ethnic minority to take up the role.

Inside the building, in the Place to Eat cafe, posters created by University of Leicester Food and Drink to celebrate the contribution of Black food innovators were on display. The University’s gospel choir, The Revival, also did a one-off in-store performance.

Humaa Noori, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Projects Manager at the University, said: “We were so pleased to be given the opportunity to promote the University’s Black history and to showcase our talented students in the gospel choir. The Black food innovator cards, meanwhile, were a huge success, with the QR codes on them resulting in LSP receiving 4,830 more views of its Black History Month, compared to last year.

“This opportunity was important for the University as it not only enabled us to work with a key business within the community, but it also created a space for the University to engage with an audience who may not ordinarily participate, or have access to, information related to BHM, or who may not have been aware of the University’s work in relation to BHM, and diversity and inclusion more widely.

“It has promoted the University as one that values and celebrates the achievements of our Black students and staff community, and we hope that is has inspired all prospective students to consider our University as one of choice.”