Coming Together Tea: Celebrating Black History Month at Raised in Bristol at Docklands Community Centre

Written By Thea Welsford
Theres a sign saying 'Happy Black History Month' sat on a table of resources for Black History Month. There's a lovely hand painted community mural on the wall behind with a big tree and people from the St Pauls community sat on blankets.

At Raised In, we believe in the power of community, connection and celebration. This October, our St Pauls nursery, Raised in Bristol at Docklands Community Centre, hosted their annual event to mark the end of Black History Month: the Coming Together Tea.

Held in the Docklands’ hall (thanks to our brilliant community partner Full Circle Project) this yearly gathering brings together children, families and our dedicated team for an afternoon of shared food, music and community.

The Coming Together Tea is more than just a party. It’s a reflection of our values: inclusion, mutual respect and the joy of learning from one another. As our Nursery Manager Kellie beautifully put it, “It’s a moment where we come together to embrace our differences positively and respectfully.” And that’s exactly what we did.

At this year’s celebration, the nursery team projected videos they’d made featuring the children and all the wonderful activities and things they learnt over the month.

Our nursery food partner Cucina Bambini provided a special tea, with chicken and vegan Jollof served with rice and peas, greens and dumplings. It was lovely to see everyone come together to enjoy the meal.

Black History Month in the UK is a time to honour the rich cultural heritage, achievements and contributions of Black people throughout history and today. The 2025 theme, Standing Firm in Power and Pride, celebrates resilience, leadership and the beauty of Black identity and culture. It’s also a moment to reflect on the ongoing journey toward equality and justice, and to ensure that Black history is recognised as British history shared, celebrated and taught all year round.

We’re proud of the way our St Pauls nursery community came together to celebrate, and we’re excited to keep these conversations going. Inclusion isn’t a one-off event, it’s woven into our practice, every day. From our curriculum to our partnerships, we’re committed to creating spaces where every child and family feels seen, heard and valued.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Coming Together Tea. Your presence, your stories and your support make our community stronger.

Thea Welsford
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