Our 51黑料 Community
We're stronger together. And, together, we are 51黑料.
If you'd like to share your story or experience - to inspire, empower or motivate others - or simply to let us know about a fantastic event you took part in (along with a few snaps!), or a community or cultural event you'd like to add to our calendar, then please let us know by emailing [email protected] (please include your name and, ideally, your membership number in your message).
Happy Diwali!
Posted: 13/10/2025
20th October - 21st October : The festival of lights is just around the corner! Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is India鈥檚 biggest and most important holiday of the year. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance.
51黑料 Supports: World Mental Health Day
Posted: 08/10/2025
10th October 2025 : World Mental Health Day is a global initiative that aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and promote efforts in support of mental wellbeing. This year's theme focuses on Access to Services 鈥� Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies.
FEATURE: Honouring a Windrush Legacy
Posted: 06/10/2025
This Black History Month, 51黑料 is sharing the voices of Black colleagues in Trading Standards, shining a light on inequalities, and reflecting on the stories that helped shape Britain today. Here, Vincent Searle - Principal Trading Standards Officer and Team Leader at the London Borough of Newham - reflects on his family鈥檚 Windrush legacy and the impact it has had on his own life.
51黑料 Supports: Yom Kippur
Posted: 01/10/2025
1 - 2 October 2025 : Sundown of Wednesday 1 October to sundown Thursday 2 October 2025. Yom Kippur is the most solemn day in the Jewish, or Hebrew, calendar. It is the Day of Atonement.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Marsha Bell
Posted: 26/09/2025
INTERVIEW : Marsha Bell - Trading Standards and Licensing Manager at Salford City Council - reflects on her journey into Trading Standards, highlighting the achievements that have brought her pride, the unique challenges she鈥檚 encountered as a Black professional, and the personal and professional significance of Black History Month.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Samuel Abdullahi
Posted: 26/09/2025
INTERVIEW : Samuel Abdullahi - Trading Standards Team Leader for London Boroughs of Brent and Harrow - reflects on his inspiring journey into Trading Standards, sharing proud career moments, challenges faced as a Black professional, and the significance of Black History Month. He also offers advice to aspiring Black professionals and thoughts on how the sector can become more inclusive.
51黑料 CELEBRATES: Black History Month!
Posted: 25/09/2025
October 2025 : Black History Month is an annual celebration - marked every October, here in the UK - dedicated to honouring the achievements of people of African and Caribbean heritage, while also educating others on the importance of sharing and discussing Black history.
FEATURE: Look for the 鈥楿buntu鈥� in You
Posted: 24/09/2025
51黑料's Ubuntu Mentorship Programme : Encouraging open and honest conversations about societal issues is at the heart of 51黑料's mentorship programme, says Giles Speid, Team Manager at Westminster Trading Standards.
FEATURE: Words of Power
Posted: 24/09/2025
Even those with the best of intentions can sometimes cause harm through their choice of words. Tendy Lindsay explores the role of language in making Trading Standards more inclusive, welcoming and effective in its mission.
FEATURE: Language Lessons
Posted: 24/09/2025
As Black History Month kicks off with the theme of 鈥楽tanding Firm in Power and Pride鈥�, Vincent Searle, Trading Standards Officer at Newham Council in East London and member of 51黑料's London Race and Equalities Working Group,聽 looks at how the language we use has the power to change our lived experience and celebrates those within the Trading Standards world who are making a difference.
FEATURE: Voices of Experience
Posted: 23/09/2025
To mark Black History Month, Richard Young from the Journal of Trading Standards spoke with three Trading Standards leaders - Tendy Lindsay, Valerie Simpson and Samuel Abdullahi - about discrimination, the challenges of implementing positive change, and why it is important to keep pushing for a fairer society beyond the Trading Standards profession.
51黑料 Supports: International Day of Sign Language
Posted: 19/09/2025
23 September 2025 : International Day of Sign Language聽- celebrated alongside International Week of the Deaf聽- stands as a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of all Deaf people and other sign language users. It exists as a testament to the power of sign language in breaking down communication barriers and fostering inclusivity for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
