Windrush75

How should I introduce you and what is your connection to USW?

I was born in Cardiff in December 1957. I am the third of seven children, brought up in a single-parent family by a Black mother in Ely. Having this background should mark me and my family as ‘drop-outs’, ‘no-hopers’, low educational attainment, unemployed/unemployable, young unmarried parents, trouble with the law etc., but we have all broken the stereotype of what ‘others’ would have labelled us.

I work at Diverse Cymru, the pan-equality charity committed to supporting people faced with inequality and discrimination because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. Diverse Cymru was formed from a merger with Awetu Black Mental Health, a charity where I was the manager for 10 years and Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People. I am the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Mental Health and Dementia Manager (Policy). I have worked in the mental health arena for the last 21 years and with dementia for the last three years. My interests also cover learning disability within those areas.

I have responsibility for managing major projects, addressing early intervention, inequality and support for adults, older people, children, and young people regarding mental health, dementia, and learning disabilities within the diverse communities of Wales. I currently work collaboratively with Welsh Government, Public Health Wales, all seven Health Boards, and the major mental health, dementia, suicide, and self-harm and learning disability charities / organisations in Wales to represent the views and issues of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people with mental health issues and/or dementia/learning disabilities.

I have written the first Cultural Competency Toolkit for Wales. This is a workplace developmental tool for organisations seeking to develop and implement good practices to ensure that the services they provide to our diverse communities are culturally competent, fair, and equitable. The scheme has been funded by Welsh Government and endorsed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales. My link with USW is that the evidence base for the tool kit is rooted in several studies conducted with USW colleagues.

What does Windrush 75 mean to you?

Speaking as a Black Welsh woman, it is really important, especially this year’s celebration. People from the Caribbean came here nearly a century ago specifically to help rebuild the nation, to make a significant contribution. I know it was not easy for many of them. Then, there was the more recent Windrush scandal. With the UK Government’s attempt to make British society a hostile environment, making people from this generation of migrants lose their jobs, be deported and pay little attention to their contribution and their right to be here. The fact is that these policies impact negatively on all Black people’s lives, including those born here. So, it is important to take every opportunity to recognise their involvement and role in the shaping of this country. I am a Black Welsh woman, and I can trace my ancestry to Africa, but I am part of this bigger picture that includes the Windrush generation and the Caribbean. I am part of it.

Why did you decide to organise the Windrush march?

For me the march is a way of celebrating. Celebration is unity and bringing people together – Black people and allies – and to march so that we can publicly show how proud we are of them. It’s like having a carnival. So that is why I became involved. The idea came about because I was in the Pride march last year and that got me thinking that perhaps we should be marching for the Windrush generation. Also, when the Windrush generation arrived in Britain from the Caribbean, they brought art, music and writing that would transform British culture forever. However, the work of Caribbean people and their contribution to British art and culture is often not often recognised. So again, let’s be proud and shout about it.

What do you think organisations such as USW can take away from national events such as Windrush 75?

They can find ways to make concerted action! Universities have a massive role to play an important role in shaping our future. They need to be able to not only find ways to put forth an anti-racist agenda as public bodies, but also to get to know and support those of Caribbean and African descent – staff and students. It is part of their core service and it is time for universities to push the social justice agenda forward. Taking a ‘neutral’ position is no longer possible.