Building the Centre
In the early years of the Association, advocacy and community support were the key aims, but many Black people at the time faced exclusion from social activities. In response, the Association began putting on events for the community.
Christmas dances, Jamaican Independence celebrations and Caribbean Carnival became important for community building and for celebrating and sharing the culture. As the community grew, and with it the Association, meetings across Derby in members’ homes and church halls seemed less viable.
1982
This led to the purchase of land and building of a Community Centre in 1982.The building of the centre was hard fought and, since 1982, it has been the unofficial home of Derby’s Black community.
Flagship projects like the Summer School continue today and other community organisations have grown from it, like The Hadhari Project, whose Burton Road building supports elders in the city.
