Shades is a racial justice and faith project, designed to support schools and churches to be a place of belonging and flourishing for everyone. We are celebrating the rich diversity of our communities, helping to embed anti-racist practice within our schools and churches and developing fresh approaches to discipleship.

The project aims to develop discipleship pathways for children, young people and their families, enabling them to grow in their Christian faith and to belong to a thriving church community. The Shades Team works with Church of England primary and secondary schools and parishes across Manchester Diocese.

Shades activities enable schools and churches to create a safe space for dialogue and learning, empowering children, young people and adults to celebrate diversity to champion difference and to put love into action as modelled through the life of Jesus.

This evolved from discipleship approaches developed trough the Places project in Bolton deanery.  It encompasses Shades Collective Worship, Shades Identity and Faith Workshops, Shades Ambassadors discipleship groups, and Shades CPD sessions designed for school staff teams.

Inspired by feedback from pupils taking part in the Places project, the legacy of George Floyd Jr and the subsequent Lament to Action framework from Archbishops’ Anti- Racism Taskforce, the Shades project was created. 

The project is responding not only to conversations with pupils in our diocese but also the concerning findings of a YMCA Young and Black report (2020). The report found that:

• 49% of respondents said they believed racism was the biggest barrier to academic attainment
• 50% of children and young people felt that the biggest barrier is teacher perceptions of them – e.g. being seen as “too aggressive”
• 70% of students feel under pressure over their Afro hair
• 95% hear racist language regularly in school.

Project Aims

We aim to educate and celebrate Black history by highlighting influential role models and recognising the contributions of Black people in the UK and globally.

We are committed to:

• Fostering empathy and understanding around racial diversity and acceptance across schools, churches, and communities.
• Enhancing the sense of belonging for children and young people in all areas of life—school, church, community, and home.
• Instilling dignity and promoting a strong racial identity for Global Majority children, helping them flourish in their identity and faith.
• Equipping all children to stand against racial injustice and celebrate who God has created them to be.

We share God’s love by teaching every child and young person that they are made in the image of God. We aim to:

• Lay the spiritual foundations for children to grow and thrive wherever they are planted.
• Remove racial barriers that may hinder children from experiencing faith in school or church.
• Promote acceptance and belonging in every faith-based setting.

We provide training and support for school leadership teams, offering accessible tools to:

• Understand the impact of racism on the mental health of Black and Global Majority students.
• Embed anti-racist practices within the curriculum and create safe spaces for learning.
• Build awareness of anti-racist terminology and approaches.
• Reflect on how attitudes, experiences, and beliefs influence engagement with Black, Asian, and Global Majority children.

Project Activities

Online Resources 

An online resource bank for schools, churches, parents, and educators designed to inspire, empower, equip, and educate. These resources support the integration of racial justice, identity, and faith into everyday learning and worship environments.

Shades Collective worship/class worships

We offer interactive and engaging worship sessions for schools, designed to spark meaningful conversations around identity and inclusion. These sessions help build understanding and empathy among students, enhance their overall wellbeing, and embed core values that foster a strong sense of identity within school communities.

Shades 3-4 week projects with youth groups

These short-term projects with youth groups are designed to create safe and supportive spaces where children and young people can share their experiences without judgement, discover a sense of acceptance and belonging, find their voice, and be empowered to become advocates for positive change.

Safe space workshops for Year KS2 – KS4

These workshops provide a safe and engaging space for children and young people to explore and discuss important issues surrounding race and racial discrimination. Through interactive group discussions, storytelling, and multimedia activities, students are encouraged to reflect on the challenges faced by people from Global Majority backgrounds and the harmful effects of racism.

By sharing lived experiences, engaging with thought-provoking content, and exploring creative ways to be allies, students gain valuable tools to challenge racial boundaries, stereotypes and foster a more inclusive, respectful environment both within their schools and beyond. The goal is to empower them to be motivated by their faith and become active voices in dismantling all forms of racism and promoting positive change.

Training Support for Schools

We offer CPD sessions for school leadership teams that support the development of anti-racist practices in education. These sessions help create safe and inclusive spaces for both staff and students, deepen understanding of the mental health impact of racism on Global Majority students, and provide practical strategies to embed inclusive language, values, and approaches into the school’s culture and curriculum.

Celebrating Black History Month

This celebration of Global Majority heritage honours the contributions of Black role models throughout British and global history, while also exploring the rich diversity of cultural expressions of worship. It recognises the beauty and uniqueness of the nations God has created, encouraging appreciation of identity, culture, and faith within inclusive and spiritually nurturing environments.

Shades Ambassadors

Shades Ambassadors are small groups of passionate children and young people in primary and secondary schools who lead creative racial justice and anti-racism initiatives. They foster safe spaces for dialogue and inclusion, influence the curriculum, school culture, and ethos, and champion diversity – becoming powerful voices for change within their communities.

Shades Ambassadors from Canon Slade School worked with our Communications Team to create this powerful film, “It’s Not Alright” that was released during Black History Month 2024.

The Impact of Shades

Feedback from teachers:

Describing the work of the project, Catherine Anderson, Headteacher at St James’ CE High School in Bolton commented, “It’s impossible to convey the positive impact the Shades Project has had in our school. Both our staff and pupils have been fortunate to benefit from this caring, faith-driven programme focused on racial equality for young people. I’m delighted that Shades will now be extended to more schools in our diocese.”

“The Shades Collective Worship was outstanding, delivering a powerful message about stereotypes and how young people can prevent them. It emphasised celebrating individual uniqueness and using words to empower others, promoting acceptance and inclusion. As Deputy Head Ambassador at Bolton St Catherine’s Academy, the presentation inspired me to foster a more inclusive school community, even through simple acts like checking on others”.

Responses from children and young people:

At Canon Slade, following our collective worship during Black History Month, a student at the front turned to her friend and said, that’s why you’re not just supposed to touch black people’s hair. She felt her lived experiences were validated having experienced such fascination with her curly coils.

During the tour, children were surprised to learn about how important Bukayo Saka’s faith is to him and could not believe that he read his bible every night and prayed before each match. We were able to explore how we can add prayer and reading our bibles into our own daily routines.

A pupil from Bishop Bridgeman Primary commented, “I never joined a club before Shades, but when I was part of the Shades Collective Worship assembly, it got me eager to join, and God let me….I want to thank Ni-Cola and Paul for helping me to respect all faiths and colours.” 

This powerful song, ‘ A Million Colours’ recorded by Ni-Cola Scott, Shades Lead captures the essence of the project teaching children that they are all wonderfully and fearfully made.