Oxford honors Windrush Women with festivities

An exciting series of events marks Windrush Day 2024 in Oxford from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June.

The theme of this year’s celebrations is ‘Women of the Windrush’. Traditionally, the focus has been on the men who disembarked from the Windrush ship, but this year’s festival will highlight the female arrivals, their stories, and their voices.

This marks the 5th year that Windrush Day has been officially celebrated in the city and the 76th anniversary of the HMT Windrush arriving at Tilbury Docks in Britain. While many passengers settled in large cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool, a number came to Oxford and built homes here. Over time, individuals and community organizations has established networks, advocated for equal rights and opportunities, and made significant contributions to the city, enriching its cultural life. Many of these organizations and networks have been initiated and led by women.

Euton Daley of the Oxford Windrush Working Group says, “Women of the Windrush Generation have made a huge contribution to communities around the UK, and Oxford is not the least of these. They have made their mark on the city and helped create its modern identity. It’s their voices we hear daily in social interactions in hospitals, shops, community centres, schools, and churches. This Windrush Day we are celebrating them, and everything they’ve achieved.”

An artist is being commissioned to work with Oxford’s young people over the school May half-term holiday at the Pitt Rivers Museum and other locations, as well as over the festival weekend at Florence Park. Sessions will also take place at local primary schools and with the Black Excellence Project Saturday group. Many organizations and individuals have come together to create this programme of events for local communities to get involved, share stories, learn new skills, and have fun.

This year’s events have been made possible thanks to a share of £500,000 in funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, administered by Near Neighbours.

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