More than 200 community members gathered in a town to celebrate Black History Month (BHM) 2023.

The annual event was held at The Woodville, Gravesend and featured workshops, evening entertainment and an awards ceremony.

The festivities kicked off at 11am with a variety of free dance, craft and culture workshops.

Evening entertainment began later at 6pm and included performances from Gifted Young Gravesham (GYG) and the Community Champion Awards were presented.

This year’s theme for BHM is Saluting Our Sisters, to honour the role black women have played in shaping history, inspiring change and building communities.

In keeping with the concept, the awards recognised three “unsung SHEroes who have all provided exceptional services” to people in Kent.

Special guests Deputy Lieutenant Dr Vasudaven, KCC Chairman Gary Cooke and portfolio holder for communities, Dr Lauren Sullivan all made speeches, and videos submitted by successful black figures from across the UK were also screened.

Later, for the first time, an after-show party closed the evening .

The event, hosted by the North Kent Caribbean Network, was supported by Gravesham Borough Council, GYG and Kent Adult Education.

During her speech, Michelle Bramble encouraged everyone to use the month to celebrate all cultures and recognise that it’s our collective experiences, perspectives, and talents that make our communities truly great.

The founder of NKCN said: “Black History Month should not be seen as an exclusive period of time for one group of people.

“It’s an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, to educate ourselves about the experiences and contributions of individuals.”