Broxbourne Council, in partnership with the Society of Caribbean and Africans in Broxbourne, Lowewood Museum Trust CIO and Steel Pan in Motion, has been awarded a grant of £11,645
Broxbourne Borough Council, in partnership with the Society of Caribbean and Africans in Broxbourne, Lowewood Museum Trust CIO and Steel Pan in Motion, has been awarded a grant of £11,645 by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to put on community projects and events to celebrate this year’s Windrush Day. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush, the ship that brought to the UK one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants.
The Council is one of 45 organisations nationwide to receive a share of £750,000 funding from the Windrush Day Grant Scheme. Lee Rowley MP, Minister for Communities, said:
We wanted to celebrate the positive contribution the Windrush generation and their families bring to this country and recognise the contributions made by all British Caribbean people in our communities. Bringing people together is a way to ensure better understanding and social cohesion. I very much encourage everyone to get involved in what’s going on in their local area.
The Council and its partners will host a number of commemorative community projects, including a first-time exhibition about the Windrush generation at Lowewood Museum in Hoddesdon. The exhibition will be on display from 23 June until September 2023. Visitors will be able to get a wealth of insight into the history, challenges, experiences and achievements of the Windrush generation, including first-hand stories and memories from those that live in the Borough.
On Saturday 24 June an event will be held in the grounds of Lowewood Museum to complement the exhibition. Visitors will be treated to traditional catering, Carnival dancers, Lovers Rock musical entertainment, amongst other cultural activities.
Councillor Siobhan Monaghan, Cabinet Member for Community and Housing, said:
We are delighted to have been awarded this grant which will enable local people to learn more about and get a better understanding of the experiences of the Windrush generation. There are a number of events and activities taking place around the Borough and all are welcome.
The Society of Caribbean and Africans will run assemblies at local secondary schools to educate young people about the national Windrush stories, putting them into perspective with local experiences. Youngsters will also be encouraged to participate in an essay competition capturing the experiences and achievement of either Anglo-Caribbean family heritage or public figures from the same background including sports stars, musicians, entrepreneurs and politicians. The winning entries will be incorporated into the Lowewood Museum exhibition.
Other programme activities will include creative and cultural workshops giving primary school children the opportunity to enjoy steel pan drumming with Steel Pan Motion, carnival dance, glass art and mask making. Steel Pan in Motion will be performing at Pan in the Park on Sunday 25 June at Cedars Park.
A separate Windrush celebration, not funded by the Windrush Day Grant, will take place in Hoddesdon town centre on Saturday 24 June from 12noon to 7pm organised by Love Hoddesdon and the Windrush Ladies. This will include a community market, stage performances, themed food offerings and a children’s funfair.
To get involved, or to find out more about community initiatives and events visit www.broxbourne.gov.uk/community
NOTES TO EDITOR
A full list of projects funded by the Windrush Day Grant scheme can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/45-community-groups-awarded-windrush-day-funding
At the end of the programme the exhibition will go on tour around the Borough.
Chair of the Windrush Community Funds and Schemes sub-group of the Windrush Cross-Government Working Group, Paulette Simpson CBE said: “This year’s celebration of the British Caribbean community will be extra special, as we mark the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks 75 years ago.
From those first passengers who went on to build their lives and make their home here, those that followed, and their descendants have and continue to make an enormous contribution to all aspects of British life.
National Windrush Day is now a firm fixture in the nation’s calendar and from Brixton to Wolverhampton, fantastic events and activities will be taking place across the country.
I’d urge everyone to get involved in this significant moment in our shared history.”