Over a number of years conversations have been held concerning addressing the importance of recognising the history and heritage from the African Diaspora. These conversations have involved community members, UWE staff and students with a consistent question of how these links can be created within an academic context.
This project was aimed at turning those words into learning and live projects. The guiding theme was the exploration, celebration and documentation concerning the contribution of the Windrush Generations in Bristol, and Britain as a whole. It provided an opportunity for UWE Bristol’s Black and Ethnically Diverse students to work with community leaders and Caribbean elders.
About The Windrush Generations Project
The MV Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury Docks, near London, on 22nd June 1948. The ship transported workers from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean islands, to help fill post-war UK labour shortages. The Windrush Generation refers to people arriving in Britain between 1948 and 1971 and their latter-day descendants. Here is the story of the Windrush Generation here: https://bit.ly/WindrushAnimation
The chief aim of this project was to encourage an inter-generational, collaborative project which would aid the development of creative skills for students in conjunction with community members. It sought to highlight Caribbean elders’ experiences and their resilience by showcasing the contribution they have made to the British society, and connections through the African Diaspora. UWE students utilised the inspiration of Windrush story to create, films, stories and poetry for their course submissions. The project also sought to create a range of learning resources relating to the Windrush story including books, films, references, online lectures a timeline, for future students and community members.
The project was co-led by Alisha Airey, who is a UWE BAME Project Officer working to improve the progress of Black students, Mian Ng Associate Head of Department at the International Dept. of Creative Industries and Roger Griffith, an UWE associate lecturer. UWE Alumni Millie Wood Downie, Benjamin James and Izzy James all worked on the project with Roger through his consultancy firm, Creative Connex, and engaged a number of UWE Bristol students working to promote and support the project.
Windrush Generations Key Elements
(Due to the coronavirus pandemic, instead of having a series of planned in- person events we hosted all events online with tech support from UWE Bristol. In addition, the focus was with the offspring of the Windrush Generation. Including those from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations of the Windrush Generation.)
– Produce learning tools for students of all backgrounds for UWE students.
– Provide a series of community lecturers by key community leaders in areas of their expertise. These areas were: Leadership, Film and Media, St Pauls Carnival, Health and Medical Services and Education whilst encompassing these topics in the Black British experience across the African Diaspora.
– Work with local community groups, organisations, leaders and Caribbean elders.
– Providing engagement links for UWE Bristol to Bristol’s Black community.
– Provide supporting contextual resources on related to the Windrush Generation and Black community.
– Use the project as a showcase for UWE Bristol students and staff.
Project Workshops
- The Achievements of Windrush Generations Project
Over a one-hundred sixty people attended our events. We thank all of our guest lecturers and contributors; Mayor Marvin Rees, Carole Johnson, Dr Emmanuel Adukwu, Former Lord Mayor Cleo Lake, Michael Jenkins, Adam Murray, Annderloris Chaccon, Pat Rose, LaToyah McAllister-Jones and Aisha Thomas. We thank the excellent IT support from Tom Buckley and Louise Goux, and a number of UWE Bristol staff who supported the project.
- Over 167 tickets booked, and over 100 attendees
- Six Public Lectures from community leaders delivered
- Guest Lecturer Profiles and Pictures
- Report on all six of the guest lecturers
- Student Engagement toward studies they created:
- X 3 Films Roots. Resilience. Culture. – Sam Badby, Kladji Ymeri and Keaton Brignall-McDougall
- Charlie Long using innovative media to portray the Windrush experience
- Chanelle Bartley fashion and poetry
- Project and Social Media support Chloe Smith
- Artwork from students produced for course submission to Mian Ng
- Student Testimonials contributing to what they gained from the project:
- An opportunity to work on a project that will champion and represent the Black cultures in Bristol and Britain by reflecting its history from those with lived experience.
- Work on a real-life community learning project and use learning to contribute to academic studies and CV’s.
- Gain networking and learning opportunities with leading academics, activists and artists.
- A chance to understand, listen and work on issues of race, equity, diversity and inclusivity.
- Deliver personal contributions through an artistic or academic response in an exhibition, for local media and archive for future generations.
7. Engagement of UWE staff, technicians, equality advisors, academics and more to support project and engagement with diversity and inclusion
8. UWE Webpage created- https://www.uwe.ac.uk/business/community-engagement/windrush-generations
9. CC Webpage:
- Project Updates
- Windrush Blog Commentary
- Strengthened partnership with St Pauls Carnival library project and sustainable internships
- Social Media engagement through platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
- Windrush Caribbean Film Festival involvement student films offered to be screened
- Poetry Project with community artists Urban Word Collective co-sponsored by Poetry Screen
- Windrush Resources created:
- Windrush Timeline
- Windrush Resources relating to films, books, literature, podcasts, articles
- Windrush Information sheets
- My Future My Choice Compensation Scheme support from Creative Connex
- Evaluation List of achievements by Alisha Airey
Quantitative:
- 167 sign ups to events
- Part of the Decolonise the curriculum
- Recruitment tool for staff and students
- ACE lectures on UWE website
Qualitative:
- Role models and sense of belongings
- Connect community to students
- Carnival sustainable Internships
- Connect to working with schools
- Corporate strategy – BAME staff inclusive
- Final Report and Evaluation of Project
- Windrush Day celebration with 30 Caribbean elders at Bower Ashton
- Video of Windrush Day event made by UWE students
- Video of Project to round up project
- Strengthened community links with UWE Bristol
- Creative Connex Team all former UWE student paid internships continue personal development with the community.
- Work with UWE alumni team connection to our patron Carole Johnson
- Work with UWE Equalities teams EDI, Equity team and senior management.
- Significant press and community engagement BBC Bristol, Ujima Radio and community links
- Provide learning materials and focus for Black History Month 2021
- Storifying issues for the academic institution of cultural heritage of Bristol and Black Britain for UWE Bristol.
- Work toward tackling UWE strategic priorities, rewarding gap, BAME student leaving and decolonising the curriculum.
- Photographs of UWE students and staff for publicity for UWE Bristol
- Positive action in wake of Black Lives Matter implications
Thanks & Acknowledgements
We wish to thank for their help, support, advice and contributions to the project:
Channelle Bartley, Charlie Long, Sam Badby, Kladji Ymeri, Keaton Brignall-McDougall, Sophie Kirk, UWE Equalities Team, Lynn Barlow, Linda Hamilton, Barbara Dettering, Joyce Brown, Joyce Montague, Mary Morton, Michael Jenkins, Adam Murray, Latoyah McAllister-Jones, Aisha Thomas, Pat Rose, Annderloris Chaccon, Dr Emmanuel Adukwu, Lord Mayors Office, Bristol City Council, Mayor of Bristol office, Mayor Marvin Rees, Cleo Lake, Lawrence Hoo, UWE Bristol Students, St Pauls Carnival, UWE Equity, Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, Bristol Black Carers, Poetry Screen, Urban Word Collective, Valerie Russell Emmott, Louise Goux, Deanna Poolman, Mandy Bancroft, Jayne-Saul-Paterson, Myra Evans, Helen Millican, Azita Shamsolahi, Abbie Horning, Tom Buckley, Zoe Colburn, Charlotte Chapman, Neil Sherman, Dr Shawn Sobers, Xavier Baker, Millie Wood Downie, Benjamin James, Izzy Jack, Chloe Smith, Gnisha Bevan, Stacie Flynn and our patron Carole Johnson.