HomeFundingProjectsMoments to Connect – Windrush 75: Shared past, shared future
Moments to Connect

Windrush 75: Shared past, shared future

British Future
Grantholder

A research project seeking ways to make the anniversary of Windrush a national, inclusive moment.

Project information

£32,500

Grant amount

February 2023

Date awarded

March 2023 – July 2023

Project duration

UK-wide

Location

DOWNLOAD: Why Windrush Matters Today Report DOWNLOAD: Celebrating Windrush Toolkit

Project Detail

Project summary

Windrush 75: Shared Past, Shared Future was supported through Spirit of 2012’s Moments to Connect Fund. The Fund was designed to explore how the major national events and moments of 2023 could increase social cohesion by connecting individuals and communities across social divides. Each of the projects was built around celebrating a different national moment.

British Future was awarded £30,000 for a research project which investigated how the Windrush 75 Anniversary could bring people together from different ethnic, social and political backgrounds. It sought to widen the coalition of organisations celebrating Windrush and supported practitioners in designing events. Using national polling and focus groups, they produced a report, a toolkit, and presentations to offer guidance on messaging. The report, Why the Windrush matters today, provides a ‘state of the nation’ picture of public attitudes to race and diversity in Britain today.

The report drew on new public attitudes research by Focaldata, with large samples of Black Caribbean and other ethnic minority respondents, together with a series of discussion groups across the country. It examined in detail public attitudes towards race, identity and prejudice in the UK today and looks at what people know and feel about the Windrush, how we should commemorate its 75th anniversary and what we should do now to tackle prejudice and bring people together.

Why the Windrush matters today also contained an overview of Windrush 75 events happening across the country in 2023 and facts about the Windrush; plus a series of first-person Windrush stories and perspectives on what Windrush 75 means for different sectors like business, sport and heritage and how we should teach children about Windrush in schools.

The accompanying Celebrating Windrush Toolkit aims to support practitioners in designing Windrush anniversary events. It offers evidenced advice on communicating about the 75th anniversary of the Windrush and the types of events that will most appeal to different audiences.

Impact & Learning

Key learnings

British Future’s research showed that a majority of British people recognise the importance of Windrush’s 75th anniversary. While not everyone felt that the celebrations were relevant to them, there was an appetite for people to learn more, and there was little evidence that the event would be divisive to the public.

The Celebrating Windrush Toolkit recommends that event organisers consider putting on Windrush events that mark the occasion in a positive, celebratory way, focusing on food, music, and intergenerational contact between older and younger people. Great care should be taken to ensure that the events are well marketed, low-cost and inclusive of families, people of different faiths and people with disabilities

The Windrush 75 network has done an important job convening stakeholders, and are already looking ahead to Windrush 80, with the idea that Windrush events can help the UK move toward a goal of ‘net zero’ racial discrimination by Windrush 100.

61%

of people surveyed felt that that Windrush 75 was an important moment for the country (vs. 71% of ethnic minority Britons and 84% of Black Caribbeans).

53%

would like to learn more about the Windrush (64% ethnic minority).

74% (89% Black Caribbean)

think children should be taught about the Windrush in school.

65%

of the public (71% ethnic minority) would support a mission to achieve ‘net zero‘ racism and discrimination in Britain by the time of the Windrush centenary in 2048.

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