To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Jackie Taylor writes about Hyacinth Jarrett. Born in Mandeville, Jamaica in 1932 Mrs Hyacinth Jarrett travelled to England in 1956. She embarked on a career of Nursing but soon realised that she had a gift for hairdressing, establishing her own business Jarrett’s Hairdressers in 1970. Mrs Jarrett soon became an expert in Black, European and Asian hair and styling.

Black History Month: What is it, and why does it matter? By Marianna Masters Every October, Black History Month invites us to pause, reflect, and honour the legacy of Black communities in Britain and Black people oversees who have shaped our culture. But in 2025, with so much unfolding around us, from rising far-right rhetoric to the continued marginalisation of Black voices, it’s not enough to simply mark the occasion. We need to ask: why does this month matter, and what are

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Our Chair, Marianna Masters, writes about Mary Seacole   On my many trips to St Thomas’s Hospital as a former Public Governor for Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, I would pass the statue of Mary Seacole. She stands tall, striding forward into the wind, just outside the building where so many lives are cared for. I often paused—not just to admire the sculptu

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Kamal Preet Kaur provides some reflections, as a brown woman. I'll never forget my maiden speech at Hillingdon Council. I stood up to support Black History Month motion and shared an anecdote about a Black MP who was directed to the service lift. They thought she was there to clean, not to legislate. And then, the Tory councillors voted it down. The motion was lost

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Susan Fajana-Thomas OBE writes about Claudia Jones. As a resident of Stoke Newington in Hackney, every time I walk past this building on Stoke Newington Road and see the faded sign with the name 'Claudia Jones Organisation', it reminds me of the great woman, Claudia Jones. I read about her over two decades ago, and her story helped shape my dedication to challengin

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Rachel Burgin writes about an African slave known as Jane. d 1700, Mildred Gale nee Warner of Warner Hall Virginia, wife of George Gale merchant of Whitehaven, Here also lie with her, her baby daughter and her African slave Jane. This simple (now lost) Whitehaven gravestone has enough history packed in its handful of words to fill a museum. But it also tells the tr

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Kelly Grehan writes about Olive Morris. Olive was a fearless activist, community leader, and tireless fighter for justice whose legacy continues to inspire movements today. Born in Jamaica and raised in South London, she became a central figure in struggles against racism, sexism, and inequality in Britain during the 1970s. Morris’s activism was bold and hands-on.

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Rachael Lotus writes about Gertrude Paul. Gertrude Paul was born in St Kitts and moved to Leeds in 1956. Despite being a qualified teacher already, she was required to complete British qualifications which she did by the early 1960s and became Leeds’ first black teacher. In 1976 she became the first black headteacher in the city, leading Elmhurst Middle School A na

To celebrate Black History Month, FWN are publishing a series of articles on inspiring black women from History. Liz Hind writes about Jessye Norman Jessye Norman was a soprano opera with an amazing voice and an extraordinary range. She sang in the great opera houses of the world including the Royal Opera House, La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera. She was also booked to sing at historical occasions including presidential inaugarations, the anniversary of the French revolutio

Powering and elevating our children and young people is what we seek for our children here in Hackney.  

By Kamal Preet Kaur On Wednesday, 18th of June, I had the honour of attending the Parliamentary  Great Get Together  at Speaker’s House,...

Anya Sizer Women's health for so long has been the subject of a lack of care and medical focus, and so it was heartening and hugely...

As Labour settles into government, a frontline councillor reflects on early progress and the challenges that lie ahead By Kamal Preet...

Editor’s note: it was a huge privilege to spend part of polling day campaigning for Alex Bulat in St Ives – and a joy to see that she had...

Rebecca Geach recommends: Julia Donaldson This might seem an odd pick of author for a blog whose audience is most likely to be over the...

Twitter: @Kelly_Grehan Facebook: Cllr Kelly Grehan Some conversations stay with you for what they say about our culture. More than 20...

Being the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Monmouth, County Councillor and Cabinet member as well as CEO of an award-winning...

Social movements throughout history have taught us that it is not enough to simply align ourselves with progessive calls for change - we...

The last weekend of September 2021 brought my very first experience of attending the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Heading...

I got the phone call all service spouses dread on 9 May 2010 after my husband trod on an explosive device in Helmand Province,...