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Gloucestershire Libraries awarded funding to celebrate Windrush Day 2025

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Gloucestershire Libraries have been awarded funding to host events and activities to mark the eighth national Windrush Day.

They have received £11,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to put on activities which will focus on bringing communities together, to commemorate, celebrate and educate their local area about the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.

Thanks to the support of Near Neighbours, the project will see Gloucestershire Libraries work with community partners to commemorate the people of Gloucestershire who are part of the Windrush generation, telling their stories, celebrating their culture and honouring their contribution to the county.

With community partners, the project will feature a series of workshops and activities across the county, including Afro-Caribbean drumming, fabric printing and storytelling. These events will offer hands-on experiences, bringing the Windrush story to life and encouraging deeper connection with this important part of history.

The project will centre around the production of a film, which will provide a platform for members of the Windrush generation and their families to tell their stories. The film will also feature footage from the workshops, with testimonials from participants talking about how the project has impacted their understanding of the Windrush story. The film will be screened in the performance space at Bishops Cleeve Library on 22 June to mark National Windrush Day. To book a place to view the screening, go to: Bishops Cleeve Library - Windrush Celebration Day | Gloucestershire Libraries

The event will also include hands-on cultural experiences including Afro-Caribbean printmaking and stories that bring history to life, as well as special guest artists including the larger than life Miss Windrush puppet. All ages are welcome.

Following the screening, the film will be made permanently available to view at the immersive space in Oakley, Cheltenham.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for libraries at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “I’m delighted we have received this funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which allows us to bring communities together in celebration of the invaluable contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants. Through storytelling, music, art, and film, we aim to not only commemorate their legacy but also create opportunities for people to connect, learn, and reflect on this vital part of our shared history."