Shades of Black

Shades of Black is a community organisation in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England, formed after the Handsworth riots in the mid 1980s.

The group works with local schools at two large allotments in the city.

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are taught about vegetable gardening. The produce is distributed to elderly people who cook for themselves, to elderly day care centres and any surplus used at a local catering college to help students prepare food from other cultures.

The supervisor, a former probation worker, was awarded an honour by the Queen in 2002.