Celebrating Windrush Day
Staff, patients and local schoolchildren came together at Newham Hospital this week for a vibrant celebration marking Windrush Day, in a heartwarming display of culture, history and community.
Now in its second year, the event is the result of a growing partnership between the Vital Arts team at Barts Health and Newham Music. The project engages pupils from a local primary school and the Newham Staff Choir, culminating in a powerful performance for the hospital community.
Held in the hospital's main atrium, the concert featured joyful renditions of songs from the Caribbean and messages of thanks to the Windrush generation - many of whom were foundational in shaping the NHS as we know it today.
The Windrush generation refers to people from the Caribbean who arrived in the UK between 1948 and the early 1970s, responding to a call to help rebuild the country after the Second World War.
Many found roles in healthcare, including here at Newham, where their legacy continues to shape and strengthen our workforce. Speaking after the event, one staff member said:
“It was such a moving celebration. Seeing colleagues and children sing together really brought home the sense of pride and togetherness in our community.”
We are especially grateful for the huge support from the BAME Network in helping to make this celebration a success.
The Trust is proud to mark Windrush Day and recognise the profound contribution of our Caribbean communities - past and present.