As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we are proud to acknowledge the remarkable Windrush Exhibition that has been on display across Blaenau Gwent over the summer.
The Windrush Cymru Exhibition has been an incredible journey through history, showcasing the achievements and contributions of those who settled in the UK from the Caribbean and their descendants. These pioneers played a vital role in rebuilding Britain – working in steel mills, coal mines, hospitals, and public transport – and have significantly shaped the fabric of our nation after World War II.
We invite you to reflect on and learn from these experiences. You can view the Exhibition below and also listen to the Valleys Voices podcast series, hosted by the West Gwent Community Cohesion Team. In this series, Sean Wharton shares his story as a Windrush descendant and his experiences growing up in Gwent.
Councillor Chris Smith (see photo below) visited the Windrush Exhibition back in July, and said the following:
“To help re-build Britain after the second World War people were invited to move from the Caribbean between 1948 to 1971 and became known as the Windrush Generation. The newly opened exhibition in Tredegar Library, which also visits all the other libraries in the borough, is a chance to recognise that generation who helped build the society that we know today and also about understanding the hardships and sacrifices they endured. The contribution of the Windrush Generation throughout Wales can never be underestimated or forgotten."
For more information on the Windrush Generation, please visit the Windrush Generation Foundation by clicking on this link. Additionally, you may be interested in reading and supporting the Welsh Government’s Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, which aims to combat racism and promote equality across Wales by 2030.
Let us continue to honour and celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of the Windrush Generation during Black History Month and beyond.
