The Windrush Society

Thousands of men, women and children moved from the Caribbean to the UK in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. These individuals are known as the Windrush Generation – named after one of the ships that sailed from the Caribbean to England in 1948, the MV Empire Windrush.

The Windrush Generation helped make Britain what it is today. Working in a diverse range of areas helping to rebuild the country, men and women from the Caribbean found jobs in towns and cities in construction, public transport, factories, manufacturing and other areas. Many Caribbean women found employment as NHS nurses and nursing aides in hospitals across the country.

Many black people on arrival in Britain were treated unfairly. They were paid less than white co-workers and struggled to rent accommodation. In certain areas, black people experienced serious violence, were attacked and had their homes vandalised. This meant that many Caribbean arrivals were forced to live in run-down areas and live modestly with very little money. Despite this discrimination, the Windrush Generation continued to work hard to help build Britain, which they were told was the Motherland.

The Windrush Society programme

The Windrush Society curates a varied programme of events and experiences for its members. These include:

• The Windrush Talks and Lectures: A series of talks and lectures to mark the historic and contemporary contributions and legacies of the Windrush generation. These also include the children of the Windrush generation focusing on their contributions to development and growth of the United Kingdom. Delivered by local, regional and international thinkers and leading figures the aim is to advance both the public understanding and debate the impact of the Windrush pioneers and their sucessors.
  

• Insight Visits: A series of curated insight visits to landmark locations and other Museums. The visits with guided talks provide an opportunity to find out more about the history of Windrush and its connections with a geographical location.

• Workshops: Working artistically and creatively the workshop programme offers community-based and digital learning to support school students, teachers and organisations to learn about Windrush and its contribution to modern day Britain.

• Lates: Members and friends meet after hours for a mix of art, music, film, conversation, and food as we acknowledge and celebrate the Windrush legacy.

• Campaigns: The Windrush Society is also a campaigning society. The Society seeks to be a catalyst for change and to influence policy. It will champion, represent, and support the needs and opinions of its members if they are in alignment with the museum and society’s values and objectives.

  
  
  

Join Us

However, you choose to participate we welcome you.

• Become a member: Expand your personal or professional network. Connect with other members, historians, storytellers, policy shapers, and thought leaders. Be a part of a Society committed to developing a greater understanding of the lived experiences of the Windrush generation and decedents, their stories, and profound impact on Britain.
  

• Partner with us: Join our progressive community and expand your meaningful charitable contribution. By sponsoring an event or commissioning a project you can reach new national and global audiences through our calendar of events. 

• Be an inspirer and influencer: Contribute by attending our public events, sharing your insights and stories, participate in the Windrush Society or our member organisation’s programmes.
  

• Donate: As a registered not-for-profit charitable organisation the National Windrush Museum relies on our donors, grant funding, private sector funding and fundraising events to realise our vision. You can make a single one-off donation no matter how modest or begin regular giving. You can make a donation or a direct transfer, please email us for more information. You can gift asessts or objects to our collection or even volunteer your time.
  

• Apply a Gift Aid or a gift in your Will: By granting the National Windrush Museum a Deed of Covanent/Gift Aid this allows a significant portion of your tax that goes to the Government to be gifted to charity for free. https://www.gov.uk/claim-gift-aid It’s one of the easiest ways to give to charity. A gift in your Will you can make a lasting contribution to our important work. Please email us for more information.

Events

Insight Visit:

October 2022 | West Indian War Graves Wreath Laying, France

The contributions of thousands of men and women from the Caribbean who fought against Hitler and helped rebuild Britain during World War Two has largely been forgotten. Some 10,000 people left their families and homes to join the British Armed Forces. All over the world memories of fallen West Indian soldiers and their heritage, are preserved in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission, in horticultural and architectural settings so that their stories can be told, and their sacrifice can never be forgotten.

At the cemetery in Ètaples, Le Touquet in Northern France there is a cluster of eleven (11) British West Indies Regiment (BWIR) graves which will be the destination for this event. In rows 37a, 37b and 37c. Eight (8) of the men laid in rest are Jamaicans and one (1) St Lucian and one (1) Bahamian. These graves stand as a permanent and emblematic reminder of the thousands of men who travelled from the West Indies to fight for our freedom and never returned. The BWIR standards/colours will be presented at the wreath laying ceremony.

By shining a spotlight on the resting places of these West Indians we seek to remember and connect the individuals we commemorate with current and future generations. Many families and decedents still tell stories of their loved ones who died in the Great Wars, but for whom their resting place is unknown, and they speak of those who survived only to face extreme racism when arriving in the UK to support the rebuild of Britain.