GLOUCESTERSHIRE Libraries have been awarded £11,000 in government funding to host a wide-ranging programme of events and activities in celebration of Windrush Day 2025.

The grant, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, will support a series of creative projects running across the county.

Now in its eighth year, Windrush Day is marked annually on 22 June and honours the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants to British life.

Thanks to additional support from Near Neighbours, Gloucestershire Libraries will work closely with local community partners to deliver a schedule of engaging, educational, and celebratory activities.

The aim is to commemorate the experiences of those who came to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1971.

The programme will include hands-on workshops featuring Afro-Caribbean drumming, traditional fabric printing, and storytelling events that bring history to life.

These activities are intended to promote understanding and connection across different communities, while providing opportunities for people of all ages to learn about the richness and resilience of the Windrush Generation’s experience.

At the heart of the project is the creation of a short film that will document the personal stories of Windrush elders and their families living in Gloucestershire.

It will also include footage from the workshops and interviews with participants, exploring how the project has helped shape their awareness and appreciation of the Windrush legacy.

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, cabinet member for libraries at Gloucestershire County Council, welcomed the announcement: “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.”

Gloucestershire Libraries’ Windrush Day project is part of a growing national movement that recognises the cultural, social and economic contribution of Caribbean communities to the UK.