Stories & Media

"You have a case here. This centre was wrongfully sold and now you need to contact a friend of a friend, or even a friend of a friend of a friend, because somebody knows somebody who can help." The room erupted with laughter. But underneath the humour was something deeper, as he was reminding us of the power of community, networks and collective action. That it's people, together, that can truly move mountains.

I discovered that my grandad, Carl Ince, taught weekly Kung Fu classes at the Nello James Centre during the 1990s and my dad, Craig Ince attended sessions there. That discovery made the project feel even more meaningful and personal.

"Together, we imagined a space that would explore Black storytelling while actively nurturing community..."

"I'm passionate about learning and documenting the real history of people from Global Majority backgrounds to ensure recorded history is more inclusive and representative..."

Whilst the story of the Nello James Centre will never not be a painful one, we now know better. So, we should do better. Let’s protect what’s left. Let’s build what’s missing..

"I imagined a space where women could learn real, practical self-defence in an environment filled with warmth, music, laughter and empowerment."

"So much of our heritage lives in our homes, in our kitchens, shared meals, in the stories exchanged while cooking side by side. Food allows knowledge to move naturally between generations..."

A round-up of the Rekindling Nello James so far, reflecting on the stories, community activations, oral history and the journey so far.

"Being part of this work allows me to honour the elders, educators and everyday people who built community here with heart and resistance."

"I hope the older generation who got to experience the Nello James Centre feels nostalgia and a sense of pride and self respect for building a community..."

Alieh shares how the Rekindling Nello James project has become more than heritage work — it’s an act of care, remembrance, and resistance for Manchester’s Black community.

"I’m only just discovering the story of the Nello James Centre, but learning about its legacy has revealed urgent truths..."

"the Nello James Centre is very close to my heart as a building that was quite significant in my childhood as a community space." - Keisha Thompson

Rekindling Nello James has officially launched at the Kath Locke Centre. Our first blog post shares highlights from the day and introduces this space, where each month you’ll hear new voices reflecting on the project, its history, and the community shaping it.

Written by Bianca Danielle Leading the Rekindling Nello James project, has given me the space to thoughtfully shape ideas that sit at the intersection of heritage, creativity, and community. Home Is Where the Pot Is the name of what I would like to be a future series of heritage cooking sessions. The idea grew from…

Written by Bianca Danielle Keisha Thompson is a Freelance artist, producer and researcher, as well as a member of our project Steering Group. She recently shared with us The Nello James Centre is very close to my heart as a building that was quite significant in my childhood as a community space…” Keisha was a…

The next Guard Her Ground sessions are now live and take place weekly Jan-Feb 2026 – click here to book your place! Written by Siarka ‘Simeon’ Murisanga My name is Simeon, and for more than twenty years I’ve been coaching boxing, teaching self-defence, and helping people step into their physical and mental strength. But for…

Written by Bianca Danielle Leading the Rekindling Nello James project, has given me the space to thoughtfully shape ideas that sit at the intersection of heritage, creativity, and community. Home Is Where the Pot Is the name of what I would like to be a future series of heritage cooking sessions. The idea grew from…

Written by Bianca Danielle, Project Manager, Rekindling Nello James Sometimes the most special moments happen by chance. When Malaya Li-Barrett-Squire joined us at Rekindle School for a week of work experience, she overheard me talking about finding a young illustrator to capture the heart of the Rekindling Nello James Project. I was looking for something…

Written by Bianca Danielle I cannot believe it has been a full year of planning and delivering the Rekindling Nello James project. What a project. What an honour. If you attended any of our events over the past year, you will probably have heard me repeat the same thing over and over again, being asked…

As Project Coordinator for the Rekindling Nello James project, Nicole has helped deliver events, activities and community engagement across the project. In this blog, she reflects on her journey into heritage work, discovering her own family connection to the Nello James Centre, and how wellness, community and storytelling have become an important part of preserving…

Written by Natasha McDonnell-Tanoh I am deeply grateful to be part of the Rekindling Nello James project through hosting Radical Readers, a book club dedicated to exploring Black literature. I knew the group would be good, there’s little room for disappointment when you bring together good books, good snacks, curious minds, and open hearts. What…

Written by Laila Benhaida Hello, my name is Laila and I’m the Community Archivist at the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust (AIUET) the sister organisation to the RACE Centre. We are an archive and library based in Manchester Central Library first founded in 1999 by Professor Lou Kushnick, professor of Sociology at The University of…

Written by Jamilah Bruce What Rekindling Nello James Taught Me About Legacy and Responsibility. There’s something about becoming a parent that shifts the way you look at community. The spaces you once passed through quietly become places you hope your child will one day belong to. You start to see the future through their eyes,…

The next Guard Her Ground sessions are now live and take place weekly Jan-Feb 2026 – click here to book your place! Written by Siarka ‘Simeon’ Murisanga My name is Simeon, and for more than twenty years I’ve been coaching boxing, teaching self-defence, and helping people step into their physical and mental strength. But for…

Written by Bianca Danielle Leading the Rekindling Nello James project, has given me the space to thoughtfully shape ideas that sit at the intersection of heritage, creativity, and community. Home Is Where the Pot Is the name of what I would like to be a future series of heritage cooking sessions. The idea grew from…

Written by Bianca Danielle Hello, it’s Bianca here, Project Manager for Rekindling Nello James. As we reach the six-month mark of this 12-month heritage project, I’ve been taking time to pause and reflect. We’re halfway through the journey, with so much still to come, but already Rekindling Nello James has been filled with powerful moments…

Written by Lorraine Ballintine As a counsellor, wellbeing facilitator and member of the Rekindling Nello James Steering Group, my role in this project is shaped by both professional grounding and personal connection. The Rekindling Nello James project feels so significant to me. It mirrors my own journey of finding home through heritage, connection and shared…

Written by Bianca Danielle, Project Manager, Rekindling Nello James Sometimes the most special moments happen by chance. When Malaya Li-Barrett-Squire joined us at Rekindle School for a week of work experience, she overheard me talking about finding a young illustrator to capture the heart of the Rekindling Nello James Project. I was looking for something…

Written by Alieh Amuntung (pictured to the right side of the main image) Hello everyone, I’m Alieh, Programme Manager at Rekindle School Manchester. Although I’ve been part of Rekindling Nello James through my position at work, this is a project I would have 100% wanted to be part of regardless given its history and the…

Written by Ellie McManus Tucked away in Whalley Range is a building shaped by decades of resistance – one that has housed generations of activism, care and community. As someone who has lived and worked a stone’s throw away from the area for years, I’m only just discovering the story of the Nello James Centre,…

Written by Bianca Danielle Keisha Thompson is a Freelance artist, producer and researcher, as well as a member of our project Steering Group. She recently shared with us The Nello James Centre is very close to my heart as a building that was quite significant in my childhood as a community space…” Keisha was a…

Hello, it’s Bianca here, Project Manager for Rekindling Nello James. I’m excited to welcome you to the very first post on our blog! This space will act as a living journal of our 12-month heritage project, celebrating the legacy of the Nello James Centre and writer, activist and intellectual C.L.R. James. Each month, you’ll hear…