Cambridge Windrush festival to hail Afro-Caribbean effect on UK
The event will mark 75 years since the arrival of the Windrush Generation
Organisers of a festival in Cambridge to mark National Windrush Day today hope it will continue raising awareness of changing how Afro-Caribbean communities in the area are treated.
The music and sports event, will mark 75 years since people from the Caribbean, known as the Windrush Generation, arrived in the UK to help the country rebuild after World War Two.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend the event, sponsored by the National Lottery Community Fund, at Cherry Hinton Hall park this Sunday.
“We’re expecting people from London, the Afro-Caribbean, African and British communities, a wide range of people from different ethnic backgrounds," Opi Abila, deputy head of event organiser LIGHT Cambridge, said.
“We try to raise awareness of how these communities have been treated in the past and how we can change that.
“We do that by engaging with local communities and local councils to raise awareness of what the contribution of the Afro-Caribbean community is."
"We need to recognise their efforts in developing Britain"
LIGHT Cambridge is the community development arm of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David Church in the city.
Human rights lawyer Priscellia Robinson, who has dealt with issues from the Windrush Scandal, will be speaking at the festival with live choir performances due to take place.
There will also be a football match between Afro-Caribbean organisations as well as mental health workshops.
“What this event will try to do is to unveil a lot of hidden secrets and raise that awareness of this generation of Afro-Caribbeans who were maltreated,” said Mr Abila.
“There’s a lot of Caribbeans who were involved in developing Britain and we need to recognise their efforts on a positive note, rather than the cruel treatment that are on the Afro-Caribbean community up to this day.”
What is the Windrush Scandal?
The Windrush Scandal relates to the mistreatment of people who travelled from the Caribbean to live and work in the UK and were wrongly targeted under UK immigration law.
Some of the consequences included people losing access to welfare benefits and other government services.
Mr Abila, a registered nurse, feels more work to help Afro-Caribbean communities with issues such as mental health and careers will continue.
“There’s research that says black people are three times more likely to be sectioned mentally than their white counterparts,” he added.
“They don’t have access to treatment that’s very inclusive that would give them that opportunity to talk about their feelings.
“There is a huge amount of talent that Great Britain would benefit from if we can keep aside this ongoing racism and discrimination.
“If we can begin to embrace the Afro-Caribbean community, we can unlock those huge potentials that are wasting away because they have not been accepted into various sectors.”