Windrush Day. Celebrate, Commemorate and Educate
More then 300 people attended a day of activities, performances and celebration of the Windrush generation.
The day focused around the Caribbean community with the objective to celebrate, commemorate and educate about the contribution of the Windrush generation has made to Slough and the UK.
The event was organised in partnership with Christina Brooks-Abraham, Slough Borough Council and Slough’s Caribbean community organisations Anguilla Community Group, AXA UK, Slough Dominican Association, and SANAS (St Kitts and Nevis Association Slough).
There was a Zumba-thon led by Tanya Brooks-Carty of RAW Ladies, performances from the Upfront Band and Boss and The Horsepower Band from Anguilla, the Youth Soul Choir and the Community Soul Choir led by Rebecca Richardson. Resource Productions screened a trailer of the film made at the Windrush Elders Dinner held the week before and Animation Expressions screened the two animations on the topic of Windrush.
Aik Saath & Empoword launched the Words of Windrush project in the Gallery which is a Work and Opportunities for Women was an Arts Council England funded project, which saw young people interview members of the Slough Windrush generation and turn those stories into spoken word, all collected in an anthology.
There was Caribbean food provided by SANAS. Business workshops were held for anyone who wanted to explore a business idea as well as wide range of health partners including Public Health, Solutions4Health, Diabetes UK focusing on health issues the Caribbean community are often more susceptible to.
Event organiser Christina Brooks- Abraham, said: “Despite no central government funding the event was a huge success and a positive expression of Caribbean culture. It was fantastic to see the community coming together and other communities be uplifted by experiencing our culture. “The community have spoken by the numbers who attended and clearly stating they want to see events like this regularly”.
Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough, said: “It is very important that we as a town come together to celebrate the immense contribution of the Windrush Generation for the development and prosperity of Slough and the country. While we continue to celebrate we must also fight the injustices of the Windrush scandal, whereby hard working people of Caribbean heritage and their descendants are now being devalued. I will continue with other like minded MPs to raise this in Parliament. Well done to the Caribbean community organisations and Slough Borough Council for organising a wonderful event.”
Rochdale Alexis, Chair of Slough Dominica Association: “A big thank you to the staff at the Curve and Slough Borough Council for giving us this opportunity to showcase and celebrate our culture. Thank you to the community for coming to celebrate and commemorate Windrush Day”.
Anita Herbert, Chair of SANAS,: “It was absolutely awesome to see all the communities coming together, happy people, lots of activities, we sold all our food, it was such a buzz! We have to do this again!”
“Eldora Richardson, Caribbean community elder, said: “Today was beautiful, thoroughly enjoyed the day, lovely to see everyone enjoy themselves. Had a Zumba dance I did and loved it!”
Slough Mayor Cllr Avtar Kaur Cheema, said: “The legacy of those who made the long journey from their Caribbean homelands has lived on in their children and grandchildren and the communities they have built across the country. Events like this bring people together to celebrate this vital part of our countries’ shared histories and heritage.
“I am so pleased that the community and the council have worked together to celebrate this special occasion.”
The day focused around the Caribbean community with the objective to celebrate, commemorate and educate about the contribution of the Windrush generation has made to Slough and the UK.
The event was organised in partnership with Christina Brooks-Abraham, Slough Borough Council and Slough’s Caribbean community organisations Anguilla Community Group, AXA UK, Slough Dominican Association, and SANAS (St Kitts and Nevis Association Slough).
There was a Zumba-thon led by Tanya Brooks-Carty of RAW Ladies, performances from the Upfront Band and Boss and The Horsepower Band from Anguilla, the Youth Soul Choir and the Community Soul Choir led by Rebecca Richardson. Resource Productions screened a trailer of the film made at the Windrush Elders Dinner held the week before and Animation Expressions screened the two animations on the topic of Windrush.
Aik Saath & Empoword launched the Words of Windrush project in the Gallery which is a Work and Opportunities for Women was an Arts Council England funded project, which saw young people interview members of the Slough Windrush generation and turn those stories into spoken word, all collected in an anthology.
There was Caribbean food provided by SANAS. Business workshops were held for anyone who wanted to explore a business idea as well as wide range of health partners including Public Health, Solutions4Health, Diabetes UK focusing on health issues the Caribbean community are often more susceptible to.
Event organiser Christina Brooks- Abraham, said: “Despite no central government funding the event was a huge success and a positive expression of Caribbean culture. It was fantastic to see the community coming together and other communities be uplifted by experiencing our culture. “The community have spoken by the numbers who attended and clearly stating they want to see events like this regularly”.
Tan Dhesi, MP for Slough, said: “It is very important that we as a town come together to celebrate the immense contribution of the Windrush Generation for the development and prosperity of Slough and the country. While we continue to celebrate we must also fight the injustices of the Windrush scandal, whereby hard working people of Caribbean heritage and their descendants are now being devalued. I will continue with other like minded MPs to raise this in Parliament. Well done to the Caribbean community organisations and Slough Borough Council for organising a wonderful event.”
Rochdale Alexis, Chair of Slough Dominica Association: “A big thank you to the staff at the Curve and Slough Borough Council for giving us this opportunity to showcase and celebrate our culture. Thank you to the community for coming to celebrate and commemorate Windrush Day”.
Anita Herbert, Chair of SANAS,: “It was absolutely awesome to see all the communities coming together, happy people, lots of activities, we sold all our food, it was such a buzz! We have to do this again!”
“Eldora Richardson, Caribbean community elder, said: “Today was beautiful, thoroughly enjoyed the day, lovely to see everyone enjoy themselves. Had a Zumba dance I did and loved it!”
Slough Mayor Cllr Avtar Kaur Cheema, said: “The legacy of those who made the long journey from their Caribbean homelands has lived on in their children and grandchildren and the communities they have built across the country. Events like this bring people together to celebrate this vital part of our countries’ shared histories and heritage.
“I am so pleased that the community and the council have worked together to celebrate this special occasion.”
