How Windrush has shaped the way we at MOBE work
MOBE works with many volunteers to better the areas in Bradford. We at MOBE work with like minded people to look at issues facing the communities in South Bradford.
What is the Windrush Generation and how did it start?
The name ‘Windrush’ derives from the ‘HMT Empire Windrush’ ship which brought one of the first large groups of Caribbean people to the UK in 1948. As the Caribbean was, at the time, a part of the British commonwealth, those who arrived were automatically British subjects and free to permanently live and work in the UK.
Windrush Day
Windrush Day takes place on 22 June, remembering the day when around 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948. It was introduced in June 2018 on the 70th anniversary. On this day we recognise and thank all those who arrived on Empire Windrush (known as the Windrush Generation), and their descendants, for the enormous contributions they made to Britain during its recovery from the Second World War and have continued to make ever since.
Windrush Day also shines a light on how the Windrush Generation laid the foundations for the Black British society we know today. The purpose of Windrush Day is to encourage communities across the country to celebrate these contributions made by the Windrush Generation, and their descendants, and thank all those involved for rebuilding this society. While Windrush Day is a day of celebration, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the difficulties faced by the Windrush Generation – past and present.
Windrush Today
Many communities and councils across the UK hold events and activities each year to support Windrush Day. Events and activities ranged from 4 short films and interviews; a schools learning resource supported by the digitisation of The Birmingham Black Oral History Project to interacting with the Leeds Caribbean community through creative workshops, a letter-writing campaign and creation of life storybooks, which then was presented to the Windrush generation at a celebratory event and shared digitally as an educational resource, among other events and activities all over the UK.
Visit our Windrush Gallery to see more.