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Blackburn Central High School wins Renee Black Integration Award at Community Volunteer Awards 2021.
08/11/2021


The Renee Black Integration Award has been awarded to the staff and students of Blackburn Central High School for their outstanding voluntary contribution to bringing together the different communities of Blackburn with Darwen and building a shared understanding between different sections of our community.


Renee Black was a founding member of the Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum who devoted much of her time to helping people learn about different cultures and religions to foster a better understanding between people.


BCHS was a new school in 2012 and now serves one of the most deprived areas in the country. With intake from a wide range of local primary schools, we have a wonderfully diverse mix of nationalities in our school community. We are so proud of how well our school community works together, bringing together many different languages, faiths, nationalities, and cultures.


Since opening, we have had over 50 different nationalities join – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and 30+ languages spoken. We were mentioned in a HM Govt. Green Paper for our positive cohesion, and in 2020, we attained School of Sanctuary – the only school in BwD to do so, and now we are supporting other schools in the borough in reaching this status.


Renee Black embodied all of the beliefs that Blackburn Central High School hold dear about diversity and inclusion, about learning about each other, sharing our beliefs and coming together in unity.


Headteacher, Shanaz Hussain, said: “It is a real privilege and a real honour to accept this award on behalf of the Blackburn Central High School family. I’m proud to work in such a richly diverse school and I’m so proud of the staff and students who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to bring our communities together and to find a way to support those in need.”


The Community Volunteer Awards were held on Wednesday 3 November at King George’s Hall, more information can be found at: https://www.communitycvs.org.uk/volunteer/volunteer-awards/awards-overview/