Inspiring Black History Month Workshops at Wiltshire Police: Recycle, Reuse, Re-adore with Anansi Spider

In celebration of Black History Month (BHM), Wiltshire Police extended a warm welcome to South Wilts Grammar School and the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council to take part in enriching BHM arts and crafts workshops. 

The children from South Wilts Grammar School had the opportunity to delve into the world of Anansi, the mischievous spider central to numerous folklore tales in the Afro-Caribbean community and Windrush journals.

These workshops provided an excellent avenue for the school children to engage with and learn more about Black History Month through the captivating character of Anansi in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere. 

Sonia Carr, the workshop leader, said: "Anansi is a truly diverse character, transcending gender and ethnicity boundaries. Anansi has many friends around the world and speaks many languages. She/he/they are pivotal to folklore stories in the Afro Caribbean Diaspora. 
 
“Anansi can be both good and mischievous, and this well-travelled spider might even find its way to adorn the delightful Halloween display at HQ Devizes." 

The guiding principle of these workshops was encapsulated in the mantra, 'Recycle, Reuse, Re-adore.' A plethora of art materials were made available to these budding crafters, including vintage items, Mulberry leather, pipe cleaners, milk bottle tops, beads, yarn/thread, and an array of colourful paper. 

We believe the spiders have made a delightful addition to the main reception area at Wiltshire Police Headquarters in Devizes, and we hope this inspires you to delve deeper into the significance of Black History Month and why it's crucial to celebrate it. 

To learn more about Wiltshire Police's Ethnic Association, visit the website for additional information here.