Each October, everyone joins forces to celebrate Black History Month. Staff and students are given the chance to learn about the achievements and contributions of Black communities with a vibrant event series across all campuses.
Olympian and world medallist Yamilé Aldama paid a visit to Paddington Campus to talk about her journey from childhood in Cuba to reaching the very top of her field in the triple jump and representing three different Nations in the World Championships.
Filmmaker Amani Simpson joined us for a screening of his short film Save Me. Amani’s story as a knife attack survivor in 2011 to being recognised as a Black History Month Next Gen Trailblazer by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2020 resonated with students and sparked an engaging Q&A after the screening.
Every Thursday in October, all canteens served up a special Black History Month menu. Students and staff enjoyed discovering new African and Caribbean flavours, from Ethiopian lentil pie to Mozambique banana cake.
The Black History Month Market highlighted the remarkable Black figures who have thrived through their SEND needs and unique experiences with a collection food stalls and cultural displays.
Health & Social Care student Sharon had everyone dancing from the internal balconies of Paddington Campus with an Afrobeats DJ set.
The Student Union Art Festival and The Big Draw also encouraged students to explore Black identity and culture through art, inspired by iconic artists Kara Walker and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Over 100 Supported Learning students welcomed Reverend Michael King to Willesden Campus to hear stories about the Windrush Generation. As the son of Sam King MBE (a founding member of Windrush Foundation) Reverend King captivated students with tales of the many tailors, mechanics and carpenters who journeyed from the Caribbean to Britain to help rebuild the nation after World War II.
To bring everyone together, our Black History Month Quiz challenged students and staff to test their knowledge on historical Black figures for the chance to win prizes.
At Willesden Campus, the Hidden Figures movie night shone a powerful light on the often-overlooked contributions of Black women in history and science.
Hungry for more? Take a look at the journey of iconic musician and alumnus Emile Ford, who went on to become the first Black British artist to sell one million copies.
“My experience at College of Northwest London, has been exciting, it has been thrilling and it has been full of opportunities, and we have the tutors that help us whenever we’re in need. We go on educational trips to get a feel for what university life is like. We have the careers advisors that help us on our path, our university path.”
“At City of Westminster College, my experience has been the best of all the other colleges I’ve attended. The reason I like CWC is because the teachers make my journey easier with assessment and exams. I’m a Level Two Science student and I enjoy my lessons because most of them are practical, which are helpful for me. I love studying at CWC because you meet people from other countries – all over the world and from all different communities.”
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“My experience studying at City of Westminster College has been amazing. It’s been so welcoming; I enjoy it very much because of the staff members we have here. They’re very approachable and I could come to them with any question, and it will be answered straight away. And if I come early for a class, I can use the Learning Resources Centre, I can use the computers, the books, just to continue all my studies outside the classroom time.”
“The training process was seamless. I had good instructors who were very flexible, supporting people of all learning levels. On the last day after our exams, a security company came and did a presentation. We had the opportunity to have an interview afterwards. I told them about my experiences, and they said I would be a good fit. I formally applied for a role and started with the company soon after. Getting into security has opened doors for me. I hope I will continue to take steps up the career ladder.”
“Coming to study at the City of Westminster College was the best decision that I had ever made. The teachers are very accommodating – they help you learn things in a way that might be easier for you to learn. They are very supportive and I think that’s one of the best things about learning here.”
“I was so grateful to have won Apprentice of the Year at the West London Business Awards 2026, I could not have done it without the support my company Size Group and the College of North West London.”
