About
The Nello James Centre
The Nello James Centre was more than a building, it was a lifeline. Based in Whalley Range, Manchester and named in honour of CLR ‘Nello’ James, it served South Manchester’s African and Caribbean communities as a place for radical education, youth work, support groups, activism and more. This project exists to celebrate its legacy, surface its untold stories, and honour the generations who made it what it was.
CLR “Nello” James
CLR “Nello” James was a Trinidadian historian, activist, writer and socialist whose work inspired generations of thinkers and change-makers. Vanessa Redgrave helped name and fund the Nello James Centre in his honour in 1971 – making it a space that carried forward his legacy of Black radical education, culture and political thought.
Our goals
1
Preserve and amplify African and Caribbean culture and stories – especially those that have been left out of the mainstream.
2
Honour the radical legacy of CLR James and the Nello James Centre – and how they shaped community learning and activism.
3
Connect generations – so young people and elders can share, learn and inspire each other.
4
Create a digital archive – a living resource that keeps these stories alive and accessible for future generations.
5
Build, showcase and donate a digital Nello James Centre archive to Manchester Central Library for long-term access and study.
What’s Happening Now
This is a 12-month project culminating in May 2026. Throughout the year, we’ll be delving into archives to uncover hidden stories from the Nello James Centre and bringing them back to life through exhibitions, events, and a growing online archive.
Explore some of what we’ve uncovered so far in the Archive, or see what’s coming up on our Events page.
Project Resources
Download our Rekindling Nello James Wellbeing Toolkit.
This is a resource created with community, culture and care at its heart. It is a freely accessible resource for anyone who wants support while engaging in community, creative or heritage work, and for members of the public who simply want to nurture their own wellbeing.
Whether you’re attending an event, collaborating on a project, volunteering, researching, facilitating or exploring the legacy of this history in your own time, the toolkit offers practical and calming tools that can help you feel grounded, supported and more connected to yourself and your community.
Download it here: Wellbeing Toolkit – Rekindling Nello James Website
Developed and written by Lorraine Ballintine (Howlite Therapy) Counsellor and Creative Health Practitioner in collaboration with the Rekindling Nello James staff and Steering Group. Created as part of the Rekindling Nello James project to nurture reflection, connection, and collective care. The project is led by Rekindle School and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from Contact Theatre and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre.