Hull Partnerships
As the birthplace of William Wilberforce, Hull is the place to reflect on the past and believe in our power to change the future. 2007 is a unique opportunity for us to commemorate and celebrate the abolition of the UK slave trade in 1807. Plans are currently being developed to ensure that Hull leads the UK in marking the bicentenary of this momentous event in British history.
Along with Hull’s association with social justice, Wilberforce’s legacy lives on in the city through its links with Freetown in Sierra Leone, its world leading Wilberforce Institute and the oldest slavery museum in the world, Wilberforce House.
The Hull City Council and its partners are in the process of determining a number of commemorative events that together are to be known as the Wilberforce 2007 Programme. Critically, the proposed programme does not aim to focus solely on the past but to also try to find opportunities to place relevant matters in a modern context and to provide sustainable outcomes beyond 2007.
Hull and its Wilberforce 2007 Partnership is:
- Seeking to ensure that, via joint working across boundaries, an appropriate and significant commemorative programme of events is implemented for 2007.
- Building upon the City of Hull’s long standing reputation for supporting key human rights initiatives.
- Gaining significant recognition nationally and internationally of its intentions, and is at the forefront of the national debate.
- Already in the process of supporting in excess of 50 wide ranging projects and activities.
- Further encouraging community engagement in the development of project ideas.
- Continuing to seek new partnerships and developmental opportunities.
- Determined to ensure that issues of social justice are highlighted beyond 2007.
