LBU academic Heather Paul delivers Black History Month talk at local school

Every contribution, no matter how small, is part of the national story

I recently visited The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) to speak at a senior school assembly of approximately 1400 students, delivering a talk to honour Black History Month and celebrate the life and legacy of my mother, Gertrude Paul, who is recognised as one of West Yorkshire’s Inspirational Women in History.

Leeds is highlighting many of our local Black and global majority grassroots leaders who, throughout decades have continued to shape, support, and sustain communities across the UK. I spoke about my experience of volunteering and generationally being supported by my mother and grandparents to volunteer from a young age with community projects, which would be sustainable locally and with the aim to connect generations into collective action as changemakers, grassroots leaders, and creative pioneers.

All the women, men and young people in the communities whom my mother and others worked alongside, evidenced that UK history is not only made in moments of visibility - but also through consistent acts of care, strategic leadership, and responsibility.  The generations before us worked actively to pursue greater prospects and local impact for the next generations in the spaces and places that we live.

There are hundreds of volunteers in communities who gave and continue to give up their time without expectation of reward.  A few examples of the many areas my mother focused on are challenging barriers in education, housing and employment, and access to progression within institutional leadership teams. 

I was interviewed by students who volunteered on behalf of their year groups interested in learning how Gertrude Paul became such a unique and visionary caring leader of educational transformation, beyond the school gate.

Students asked me what I enjoyed about my role at the university. My answer was: I am passionate about continuous improvement of social justice and antiracist practices within all institutions.

My work involves many areas of research including Black historical issues and Black Feminist Thought, which accentuates the relational and collective style of Gertrude Paul’s leadership.

Black women educators have historically combined professional authority with community care, advocacy, and institution-building, often while facing intersecting racialised and gendered expectations and receiving limited recognition for this labour.

The message to young people at GSAL, is from an early age you too can volunteer as a community leader or organiser, help to bring people together to do things that make a difference to other people’s lives.”

 Joanna Haynes Boyd, Head of PSHE & EDI Lead at The Grammar School at Leeds, says “we were delighted to welcome Heather Paul to GSAL for Black History Month. Her reflections on her mother Gertrude Paul’s life and legacy offered our students a powerful connection to Leeds’ Black history and the people who have helped shape our community.

“Her message that leadership can begin with everyday acts of care and volunteering is one we hope students will take into their own lives, recognising their ability to make a difference at any age.”

The talk was one of a series Heather has delivered around the area, to mark Black History Month.