Black Country Roots and Realities
Our Stories - Our Place - Our Future
Black Country Roots and Realities is a youth-led heritage project capturing African, Caribbean and mixed-heritage stories across Wolverhampton and the wider Black Country. The project equips young people with the skills and agency to preserve lived histories, ensuring they are shared and never lost.
The project is working with young participants developing practical research, heritage and storytelling skills while uncovering the lived experiences, memories and identities that have helped shape the region.
Working alongside experienced oral history trainers and educators, participants are learning how to research, interview, document and preserve community histories that are often underrepresented or missing from mainstream narratives. The project is creating a lasting archive of voices, reflections and stories for future generations.
What you’ll get
- Oral history and interview training
- Confidence, communication and leadership skills
- Useful CV experience for education, creative work and future careers
- Excursions and lunch during heritage sessions
- Opportunities for positive networks, new friendships and memories
- The chance to leave a legacy and preserve history.
Participants should ideally live in, or near the Black Country, West Midlands, England and have an interest in African and Caribbean heritage and culture.
Interested in joining the project?
Age: 16–25
When: Saturday sessions (March 2026 – February 2027)
Where: Wolverhampton
Cost: Free to take part
Support: Training and mentoring provided
Contact us and select Black Country Roots and Realities to request more details
Keen to share your story?
What the project does
Train young people as heritage researchers
Capture lived experience and community heritage
Create a lasting public legacy
The Journey So Far
Session 1 – Introducing Black Country Roots & Realities Project
The journey into Black Country Roots & Realities begins.
Young people came together to explore heritage, community and the stories that have shaped the Black Country.
Through group discussions and interactive activities, they began considering how different communities and experiences form part of our shared history.
The session set the foundations for the project, encouraging curiosity, connection and a new appreciation for the stories around us.
Session 2 – Music, Identity & Youth Culture
Music, culture and identity took centre stage.
Young people explored the relationship between music, fashion and youth culture across generations.
The session encouraged some interesting conversations about how creativity can reflect our experiences and communities.
It was a chance to look beyond the music and discover the stories and history behind it.
Session 3 – Influential Leaders
A journey through stories of leadership, resistance and change.
Young people explored influential African and Caribbean figures and important moments from Black British history.
Through discussion and creative activities, the group considered how the experiences of previous generations still connect with life today.
The session encouraged everyone to explore history from perspectives they may not have encountered before.
Session 4 – Oral History Training 1
The group took their first steps towards becoming young oral historians.
Young people explored heritage, identity and the different experiences that shape how we see the world.
The group also considered how personal bias and social stereotypes can influence the way stories are heard and understood.
The session encouraged the group to approach people’s lived experiences with curiosity, balance and an open mind.
Session 5 – Oral History Training 2
The journey into oral history continued with a focus on connection and communication.
Young people explored their own heritage while considering the stories and experiences within their local communities,
Interactive activities helped the group develop important skills around trust, teamwork and communicating with others.
By the end of the session, the group felt more confident and prepared to begin capturing community stories.
Session 6 – Exploring ancient African and Chinese proverbs
Young people stepped back in time and experienced different elements of everyday life, culture and community.
The day also provided an opportunity to celebrate the Windrush generation and reflect on its contribution to British society hearing firsthand stories, from local community champion, David Bennett.
It was a fun and memorable way of connecting with history, learning from valued community members and seeing how the past continues to shape the present.
Session 7 – Windrush Stories Day – Bringing History to Life
History came to life through an immersive experience in the Black Country celebrating Windrush Day.
Young people explored local heritage through interactive activities, discovering stories from the past.
The experience offered a fun and engaging way to learn about the people, places and traditions that shaped the region.
A memorable session that helped the group connect with Black Country history and each other in a new way.
Session 8 – Music Is Black Exhibition
The project hit the road for a special cultural experience in the V&A museum, London.
Young people explored an immersive exhibition celebrating the influence of Black British music and creativity.
Music, fashion, photography, film and storytelling offered different ways to experience the history behind the culture.
The visit gave the group a new appreciation for the artists and movements that have helped shape British music and identity.
Session 9 – Becoming Social Historians
A day of discovery, creativity and connection saw the group step into the role of social historians and uncover the stories that shape their community.
Interactive challenges and cultural activities got everyone thinking, moving and working together while exploring themes of trust, identity and belonging.
The inspiring story of local community champion David Bennett then took centre stage, with key moments transformed into timelines, drama and creative storytelling.
Session 10 – Young Voices on Air
The group took to the airwaves, building confidence as young social historians, interviewers and storytellers.
Inspired by community stories, they created their own radio stations and brought history to life through energetic interviews, creative roles and live listener call-ins.
The session showed the power of using their voices to explore heritage, share stories and inspire change in their communities.
Why this project matters
African, Caribbean and mixed-heritage communities have played a vital role in shaping the Black Country, yet many of these stories are still missing from official records and public history.
Much of this heritage lives in memories, homes and families. As generations change, there is a real risk that stories, traditions and experiences will be lost if they are not recorded now.
At the same time, many young people want to understand history more comprehensively, but don’t always see their heritage reflected in education, archives, local culture or their home.
This project responds to both needs:
- protecting community history before it disappears
- and empowering young people to become active custodians of their own heritage
Project Impact & Legacy
Impact on young people involved
- Gain practical skills in interviewing, research, storytelling and digital recording
- Build confidence, communication skills and leadership experience
- Strengthen their sense of identity, belonging and pride
- Develop transferable skills that support education, employment and future pathways
Impact on the wider community
- Strengthen connections by bringing different generations together
- Make under-represented histories visible and valued
- Create accessible heritage resources for schools and community groups
- Support greater understanding, inclusion and community cohesion
What remains after the project ends
Black Country Roots and Realities is designed to leave a lasting legacy.
- All interviews and materials will be deposited with Wolverhampton City Archives for long-term preservation and remain accessible for future generations
- Learning resources created during the project will be free for schools and community organisations to use
- There will be a deeper local understanding of African, Caribbean and mixed heritage histories in the Black Country
- Young participants will act as ambassadors, sharing skills and knowledge beyond the project
Funding from
