Windrush Generations

The UWE Windrush Generations Project explored, celebrated and documented the contribution of the Windrush generation in Bristol, British societies and across the African Diaspora. It gave voice to Caribbean elders’ experiences, their resilience and tenacity, highlighting the amazing contribution they have made to the UK multicultural society and across the African diaspora.

In 2021, through a series of creative participatory workshops, Black, Asian and minority ethnic students at the University worked collaboratively alongside generations of Caribbean community members to record and document the stories related to their lives in Bristol and Britain. Participants created responses with the elders through visual arts, film, photography or a multidisciplinary artefact or installation.

The project has continued to bring students and community members together alongside community members to develop intergenerational learning. This has included events for the Bristol Bus Boycott 60th celebrations and a card heritage project for the 75th anniversary.

Future activities will offer opportunities for diverse student writers, event management and project work experiences. For further information contact Dr Roger Griffith at roger.griffith@uwe.ac.uk.

Project aims

The project aimed to:

• highlight issues relating to a sense of belonging and a lack of positive Black role models
• break down barriers to Black, Asian and minority ethnic students, such as creative degrees not being viewed as a valid career compared to science or other subjects
• champion and represent Black cultures in Bristol and Britain
• offer Black, Asian and minority ethnic students networking and learning opportunities with leading academics, activists and artists
• offer a space to understand, listen and work on issues of race, equity, diversity and inclusivity.

Project team

The project was managed by a UWE Bristol team who are part of the Windrush generation or who have family members who are. The programme leads were: 

• Alisha Airey, an award-winning Black, Asian and minority ethnic Project Coordinator at UWE Bristol who has previously been selected for the 100 Black Power List and Future Leaders Programme
• Roger Griffith MBE, a writer, producer, educator and social activist
• Mian Ng, Associate Head of Department (International) in the School of Arts, supported students and is passionate about using creative tools to empower and share knowledge of issues affecting communities.

The project team worked with community partners who will share their research on different aspects of the migration and how this impacted on second, third, fourth and even fifth generations to give students a better sense of identity.

For more information about the project, please contact the Health and Applied Sciences Widening Participation team at haswpteam@uwe.ac.uk.