Greater Manchester celebrates Windrush Day 2023 and NHS 75 with CAHN’s flagship event at Alexandra Park, Manchester!
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Windrush arrival and founding of the NHS, the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) is pleased to be leading on the Windrush 75 and NHS 75 celebration event in Manchester.
The event will take place on Saturday 24th June from 12pm to 6pm at Alexandra Park, Manchester, 180 Russell Street, Manchester, M16 7JL.
This year marks 75 years since the arrival of over 800 passengers from the Caribbean on HMT Empire Windrush. In recognition of the pivotal contributions of this generation and their descendants to UK society, our celebrations will be dedicated to British-Caribbean culture, history, and arts. Alongside this, we will also be observing NHS 75 to honour the significant part that the Windrush generation and their descendants played in both establishing the NHS and continuing its legacy today.
Entry is free for all! Windrush 75 will showcase authentic Caribbean food, cultural artefacts, and a variety of information stalls will exhibit health resources, career material and an array of products and services. There will be memorable performances from the main stage to keep everyone entertained throughout the day, with Caribbean old-time music, vibrant dance acts and lyrical poetry set to feature in the carefully curated line-up.
Joining us for the celebrations will be a host of keynote and guest speakers, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, The Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, MPs, local councillors, and members of the Windrush generation and their descendants. We are grateful for their support and the backing of our funders in making this event possible.
The Windrush 75 festivities will feature an arts and crafts space, children’s play area and a health walk around the park will offer people the chance to partake in physical activity.
Limited edition Windrush 75 memorabilia, from tote bags to T-shirts, will be available to purchase on the day. All proceeds raised will go towards supporting CAHN’s vital work to address health inequalities and wider disparities facing Black people across the UK.
Speaking ahead of CAHN’s Windrush Day celebration, Dr Faye Bruce DL, Chair of the Caribbean and African Health Network, said: “Many of those that arrived during the early part of the Windrush period are no longer with us, but many of us know their legacies and we want to appreciate them. For those that remain this is a very important celebration for them and their descendants, and we want to make it very special.”
Faye continued: “My dad arrived from Jamaica to the UK in December 1960 and my mum arrived just before the 1962 Commonwealth Immigrants Act that would restrict access opportunities. They have so much to share about the early days and we are really looking forward to showcasing some of that history”.
Charles Kwaku-Odoi, Chief Officer of CAHN, added: “This is a significant moment to be shared by us all, in coming together to mark 75 years since the arrival of the Windrush. This generation and their descendants have worked tirelessly to make a positive contribution to British society; and they deserve commendation. We want to use this flagship event to celebrate them and thank them for paving the way for many of us that have come after them – forward and upwards”.
We look forward to seeing you at this exciting and meaningful event, co-created by CAHN alongside other key organisations across Greater Manchester. Join us as we honour a generation and cultural legacy which continues to colour British society today. Windrush 75 will be a unique and unforgettable opportunity!
About CAHN
CAHN is a Black-led organisation set up to address health inequalities affecting people of Caribbean and African descent in the UK. Working with community groups, faith networks and cross-sector organisations, CAHN leads on strategic engagement to ensure that the voices and experiences of black people are placed at the heart of public policy and practice.
CAHN’s vision is to eradicate health inequalities within a generation by building community resilience and a social movement.
Our mission is to ensure that strategic and operational actions of service providers across health and cross sector agencies and commissioners, lead to racial and social justice for black people.
Fore more info visit: https://www.cahn.org.uk/
