Race History Detectives Course – Seeking the Pioneers

21–22 February 2026 | 10:00am–5:00pm - This is a two day course and you will have to attend both days.

Location: BRIG Café at the Warehouse, 54–57 Allison Street, Birmingham, B5 5TH

The Seeking the Pioneers project offers another exciting opportunity for young people, students and community members to become Race History Detectives.

The Race History Detectives course is a community-focused training programme. The programme enables participants to research, document, and preserve Birmingham’s often-overlooked history of anti-racist activism, supporting BRIG’s vision of a truly anti-racist city by 2035 and our move to Beyond Racism.

Now in its second year, the programme has been developed by academics and community activists for accreditation and will be delivered as an intensive two-day, in-person course. The Race History Detectives promotes intergenerational learning, leadership and community responsibility.

The weekend format responds to participant feedback and allows learners to complete the full programme while maintaining a safe space for sensitive discussions.

Participants will explore the following topics over the 2 days:

• Race, power, and social construction
• Slavery, colonialism, empire and their lasting legacies
• Birmingham’s migration history, contribution, and resistance
• Leadership, voice, and “passing the baton”
• Activism from historical movements to civic action
• Oral history methods, ethics, and use of equipment

Participants will gain practical experience in:

• Historical and archival research
• Oral history interviewing
• Storytelling
• Community engagement
• Values-based leadership

Open to community members, students, activists, creatives, and anyone interested in race, heritage, and social justice.

Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please contact Ibrar Hussain (Heritage Development Officer) at

The Detectives programme, part of the Seeking the Pioneers project, is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

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