Stories of Belonging: Celebrating Black History Month 2026 - Diverse Youth NI

Stories of Belonging: Celebrating Black History Month 2026 Diverse Youth NI warmly invites you to join us at the Great Hall at Belfast City Hall for an afternoon of stories, culture, community and celebration. This Black History Month, we are bringing people together for Stories of Belonging - a special celebration recognising Black history, celebrating the contributions of Black communities in Belfast, and creating a platform for young people and community voices to share their experiences of identity, heritage and belonging. This year’s celebration is particularly special for Diverse Youth NI as we are honoured to have been chosen as one of the official civic charities of the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast, Cllr Hedley Abernethy, for 2026/27. We extend our sincere thanks to Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Hedley Abernethy for this recognition and for supporting the work we do alongside young people and diverse communities across Belfast. ✨ What to expect Throughout the afternoon, Stories of Belonging will bring together young people, families, communities, organisations, civic representatives and friends of Diverse Youth NI for a programme of: 🎤 Stories & Young Voices — hearing experiences of heritage, identity, place and belonging from young people and community contributors. 🎶 Culture & Creativity — celebrating Black culture through music, poetry, dance and other creative performances. 🏆 Recognition & Celebration — acknowledging people and groups making meaningful contributions to our communities. 💬 Conversation & Reflection — creating space to talk about what helps young people and communities feel welcome, represented and connected in Belfast. 🤝 Community & Connection — an opportunity to meet people, build relationships and celebrate together. The planned programme intentionally combines storytelling, cultural performance, recognition and shared reflection, while keeping young people's experiences at its centre. 🧡 Why Stories of Belonging? Belfast is home to people with stories, cultures and experiences from across the world. Stories of Belonging is about creating a space where those stories can be heard and celebrated without expecting any one person to represent an entire community. It is an opportunity to celebrate Black history while also recognising the people shaping Belfast today and thinking together about the kind of city we want to build for the future. People. Culture. Stories. A Brighter Belfast. 📅 Event Details Friday, 30 October 2026 🕒 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM 📍 Great Hall, Belfast City Hall 🎟️ FREE - Registration required 👥 Ages 14+ Places are limited, so advance registration is strongly encouraged. The event is open to young people, families, members of Black communities, people from other communities, youth and community organisations, civic representatives, supporters and anyone interested in celebrating Black history, culture and belonging. ❤️ Supporting Diverse Youth NI Stories of Belonging is free to attend. There will also be an opportunity for those who wish to do so to make a voluntary contribution to Diverse Youth NI. Any net proceeds from the event will support our youth development and inclusion work in Belfast, helping us continue creating opportunities for young people to participate, connect, learn and have their voices heard. 🌍 Everyone has a story. Everyone deserves to belong. Come along, bring your friends and family, meet people from across our communities and join us as we celebrate Black history, young voices, culture and belonging in the heart of Belfast. We look forward to welcoming you to Belfast City Hall on 30 October. 🧡 Diverse Youth NI Empower. Include. Belong. By kind permission of The Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Dr Hedley Abernethy.