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What is Windrush Day?
Windrush Day is an annual celebration in the UK on 22nd June. The day marks the anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948 that carried almost more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean.
Table of contents
What is Windrush Day? Why do we Celebrate Windrush Day? How to celebrate Windrush Day Windrush Day Books and Reading Lists Celebrate Windrush Day 2026 with a gift Windrush Day Activities and Events 2026 TV Programmes and Documentaries You can watch for windrush day Windrush Community & Heritage Organisations Support & Charitable Organisations Why celebrating Windrush Day still matters The Windrush Collection Frequently Asked Questions about Windrush Day
Why do we Celebrate Windrush Day?
Windrush Day is an opportunity to remember, honour and celebrate the contributions of the Windrush Generation. These individuals made significant contributions to British society including in politics, music, sport, art and healthcare. The Windrush Generation paved the way for future generations of Black British Caribbeans, who have continue to make significant contributions to British society.
How to celebrate Windrush Day
There are many ways to celebrate Windrush Day, both on the day itself and throughout the year. Here are some ideas:
Attend a community event
There are many community events taking place across the UK on Windrush Day and throughout the year. These events provide an opportunity to learn more about the contributions of the Windrush Generation and to celebrate their legacy in your local community. Community events may include music, dance, food, and other cultural activities. Check with your local council, schools and libraries to find out what events are happening near you. If you can't find an event, why not join with others in your community to organise one yourself!
Visit a museum, exhibition or archive
Many museums across the UK create exhibits related to the Windrush Generation to celebrate Windrush Day. These exhibits provide an opportunity to learn more about the history of the Windrush Generation and to see objects related to their experiences. There are also a few archives, including the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, that you can visit in person or explore online.
Take part in educational activities
Some schools, universities and other educational institutions may organise activities and events to commemorate Windrush Day. These activities may include workshops, lectures, seminars and discussions. Participating in educational activities is a great way to learn more about the contributions of the Windrush Generation and to engage with others.
Support Windrush-related campaigns and causes
There are campaigns and causes related to the Windrush Generation that you can support throughout the year, not just on Windrush Day. For example, you can support organisations that provide legal and other support to members of the Windrush Generation who were affected by the Windrush scandal a few years ago.
Go to a Caribbean Restaurant
Support a Black-owned Caribbean restaurant and enjoy Caribbean food to celebrate Windrush Day with the flavours that the Windrush Generation brought to the UK. See our list of Caribbean restaurants in the UK to find one near you!
Windrush Day Books and Reading Lists
My grandparents and my Caribbean heritage is a huge source of inspiration for my creative work. My graduate collection that I created in the final year of my fashion design degree at the University of the Creative Arts was inspired by my Grandad’s experience coming from the Caribbean island of St Lucia to the UK in the 1950s.
His experience is documented in 'Mother Country - Real Stories of the Windrush Children' by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff which tells my grandfathers stories alongside others like Lenny Henry, David Lammy and Corrine Bailey Rae.
Imag: Front cover of Mother Country - Real Stories of the Windrush Children'
More books on the Windrush Generation
As part of your Windrush Day celebrations you can read Windrush Generation stories, many of which bring to life their experiences and why Windrush Day is such an important day to be celebrated and the Windrush Generations contributions praised.
Finding Home: A Windrush Story
By Alford Dalrymple Gardner
Finding Home is the powerful life story of RAF veteran and Prince’s Trust Awardee Alford Dalrymple Gardner, one of the passengers who travelled aboard the Empire Windrush in 1948.
Born in Jamaica, Alford arrived in Britain as part of the Windrush generation and lived through both the promise and the prejudice faced by West Indian migrants.
Homecoming: Voices of the Windrush Generation
By Colin Grant
Homecoming draws on over a hundred first-hand interviews, archival recordings and memoirs by the women and men who came to Britain from the West Indies between the late 1940s and the early 1960s. In their own words, we witness the transition from the optimism of the first post-war arrivals to the race riots of the late 1950s.
Windrush Child
By Benjamin Zephaniah
In this heart-stopping adventure, Benjamin Zephaniah shows us what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation.
War to Windrush: Black Women in Britain 1939 to 1948
Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush, Stephen Bourne's War to Windrush explores the lives of Britain's immigrant community through the experiences of Black British women during the period spanning from the beginning of World War II to the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948.
Twenty-Eight Pounds Ten Shillings: A Windrush Story
By Tony Fairweather
This powerful narrative reveals what happened on board that ship, which was packed with young, excited people who had never before left their parents, their parishes - let alone their islands.
The Place for Me
Foreword By Dame Floella Benjamin
Explores the lives of the Windrush generation in a full-colour anthology, with a foreword from Baroness Floella Benjamin, DBE. It tells 12 moving stories of sacrifice and bravery, inspired by first-hand accounts of the Windrush generation.
Celebrate Windrush Day 2026 with a gift
Mark this years Windrush Day with a gift, from a pin to wear on your jacket to a card you can gift with a special message to either thank someone from the Windrush Generation or to remind others of the sacafice that they made.
As well as our art prints the greeting cards can also be framed and make a permanent visual reminder of Windrush Day.
Our Windrush Day gifts recognises and celebrates:
- - The arrival of the Empire Windrush on 22 June 1948 and its significance in British history
- - The Windrush generation and their contribution to rebuilding post-war Britain
- - Caribbean heritage, culture, and community life in the UK
- - The experiences of Black British Caribbean families across generations
- - The importance of remembrance, education, and recognition on Windrush Day
Windrush Day Activities and Events 2026
See below for a list of activities and events taking place across the UK to celebrate Windrush Day in 2026. This list is updated regularly, so please check back for new events to celebrate Windrush Day.
Windrush Food Culture - From the Margins to the Mainstream
6 November 2025 - 30 July 2026
An exhibition of Windrush Food and Culture and its impact on Britain at The National Windrush Museum. This exhibition is a journey of exploration into how the Windrush Generation brought not only their flavours, but their memory, resilience, cultural creativity, and techniques to post-war Britain. It traces the journey of food as comfort, survival, celebration, resistance, and sustenance.
Raffia Embroidery Workshop
2026 Public dates to be announced
Learn the basics of raffia embroidery at one of our fun and creative workshops that are perfect for beginners.
During each workshop, I teach my raffia embroidery technique, inspired by Caribbean crafts and the work that I developed whilst creating my Windrush collection.
Our workshops are a great way to relax and de-stress whilst learning a new skill and creating a beautiful piece of art to take home.
As well as public events, we also provide our workshops for organisations, community groups and private bookings. Sessions can be tailored to suit different audiences, timeframes and settings.
To find out more, discuss availability or register your interest in upcoming dates, please get in touch here. We would be pleased to hear from you and explore how a workshop could work for your organisation or event.
Windrush Walking Tour
Ongoing
Discover the history of the Windrush Generation with the Windrush Walking Tour on the Go Jauntly app. Step into the history and legacy of the Windrush Generation with The Windrush Line Walking Tour, a self-guided walking tour brought to life by Transport for London, the Windrush Foundation, and Go Jauntly.
Legacies of Windrush in Cambridge (Ongoing through January 2026)
Highlights the lives and experiences of the local Caribbean Windrush community through oral histories, music, food, and community stories.
We are keen to share more activities and events happening in 2026 to celebrate the Windrush generation. Contact us or email hello@tiharasmith.com if you know of an event that should be listed here. Thank you!
TV Programmes and Documentaries You can watch for windrush day
Celebrating the Windrush Generation on Windrush Day can also be done through watching documentaries and TV programmes.
These can bring to life sadly some of the sadness that emerged but also some of the braveness and contributions the Windrush Generation made to the UK and why celebrating and supporting them is so important.
Here's just a few you may want to check out to learn more about the Windrush Generation on Windrush Day:
Windrush scandal: returning to the UK after a forty year wait
Imagine going on a family holiday and being told you have no right to return to the only place you have ever called home. That’s what happened to 70-year-old Richard Black, who went to Trinidad from the UK 40 years ago to visit his in-laws. He's thought to be one of the earliest victims of the Windrush scandal.
Alterations
Celebrating this award-winning writer, the reinvigorated version of his seminal work illuminates the Guyanese experience of 1970s London and the aspirations and sacrifices of the Windrush generation and how they played their part in black history.
Sitting in Limbo
Feature length drama exploring the devastating effects of the Windrush scandal on one family. A shocking drama inspired by the Windrush scandal. After 50 years in the UK, Anthony Bryan is wrongfully detained by the Home Office and threatened with deportation.
Who are the Windrush generation?
The Windrush generation arrived in the UK between the late 1940s and early 1970s, invited to help rebuild Britain after the second world war. Since 2012, however, when the then home secretary Theresa May launched a crackdown on immigration, many members and their children have faced uncertainty and had their access to public services blocked
Alford Gardner: 'I came to the UK on Windrush and I wouldn't change a thing'
Alford Gardner arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush. He remembers a happy ship, dances and round-the-clock calypso.
Windrush Community & Heritage Organisations
Windrush Foundation Windrush Foundation is a registered charity that designs and delivers heritage projects, programmes and initiatives which highlight African and Caribbean peoples’ contributions to UK public services, the Arts, commerce, and other areas of socio-economic and cultural life in Britain and the Commonwealth.
Windrush Generation Legacy Association (WGLA) The Windrush Generation Legacy Association Charity is dedicated to sharing the rich legacy of the Windrush Generation and the rich tapestry of their achievements to inspire and ignite the next generation of pioneers through community outreach projects, combating loneliness, supporting the impact of the cost of living crisis, and empowering the next generation of Windrush pioneers.
National Windrush Museum The National Windrush Museum is an organisation in Britain dedicated to researching, exhibiting, promoting and preserving tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Windrush pioneers, their antecedents and successors.
Support & Charitable Organisations
Windrush Defenders Legal C.I.C.
In the wake of the 2018 ‘Windrush Scandal', a group of volunteers came together to support the Windrush generation and their descendants apply for documents to prove their legal status and claim compensation. Working from the Windrush Millennium Centre in Moss Side, we held regular surgeries to provide one-to-one support to those affected by the ‘Scandal’, assisting them to navigate
United Legal Access Windrush Compensation Support Surgeries Held at at the Pilgrim Centre in Nottingham, the United Legal Access team support those who had been impacted or suffered loss due to not being able to demonstrate their lawful right to live and work in the UK.
Justice4Windrush Windrush advocates, Justice4Windrush are sing the power of film and television to amplify the voices of the Windrush generation to raise awareness, educate Britain and ignite a collective call for action to ensure a full and swift compensation to Windrush victims and t bring an end to the Hostile Environment policy.
Why celebrating Windrush Day still matters
Windrush Day remains an important opportunity to recognise why the legacy of the Windrush generation matters today. Celebrating Windrush Day goes beyond remembrance, creating space for education, reflection, and recognition of the experiences that have shaped modern Britain.
- - Windrush Day helps ensure the history of the Windrush generation is never forgotten
- - It supports education about migration, identity, and British history
- - Celebrating Windrush Day honours elders and their lived experiences
- - It creates space for reflection following the Windrush scandal
- - Windrush Day strengthens intergenerational understanding and cultural pride
The Windrush Collection
My brand, Tihara Smith was founded after graduating from the University for the Creative Arts Epsom, where I showcased Windrush-inspired graduate collection at Graduate Fashion Week in 2018.
Since completing my degree I have continued to use the Windrush generation and the Caribbean as a big part of my inspiration.
My Windrush Collection on the catwalk at Graduate Fashion Week:
Some of my notable acheivements include:
- - Being selected as a Kings Foundation 35 Under 35, representing the importance of traditional crafts which I do through my raffia embroidery workshops and my designs
- - I have published a book on Raffia Embroidery, which also includes my grandparents
- - The London Museum acquired an outfit from my graduate collection
- - I opened a pop-up shop in Covent Garden.
- - I have facillitated Raffia Embroidery workshops for the V&A, Somerset House, The Imperial War Museum. corporate organisations, schools and other public events
Frequently Asked Questions about Windrush Day
What is Windrush Day?
Windrush Day is an annual day of national recognition in the UK that honours the Windrush generation and their descendants. It marks the contribution of Caribbean migrants who helped rebuild Britain after the Second World War and who have had a lasting impact on British society, culture, and public life. Windrush Day is celebrated on the 22 June.
When is Windrush Day celebrated?
Windrush Day is celebrated each year on 22 June. The date commemorates the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948.
Why is Windrush Day important?
Windrush Day is important because it recognises the achievements and sacrifices of the Windrush generation. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on migration, identity, and the role of Caribbean communities in shaping modern Britain.
Who were the Windrush generation?
The Windrush generation refers to people from Caribbean countries who migrated to the UK between 1948 and 1971. Many were invited to fill labour shortages in sectors such as healthcare, transport, and manufacturing. Windrush Day was started to recognise the Windrush generation.
How is Windrush Day marked in the UK?
Windrush Day is marked through events, educational activities, exhibitions, and community celebrations across the UK. Organisations, schools, and local authorities often use Windrush day to promote learning, remembrance, and cultural awareness.
Is Windrush Day a public holiday?
Windrush Day is not a public holiday. It is a nationally recognised commemorative day.
How can organisations and schools recognise Windrush Day?
Organisations and schools can recognise Windrush Day by sharing educational resources, hosting talks or events, highlighting the stories of the Windrush generation, and promoting inclusive discussions about British history and migration. If you are looking for ways to celebrate Windrush Day you could also consider my Raffia Embroidery workshops or gifting your clients with products in my Windrush Day collection
What is the Windrush Day Grant Scheme?
The Windrush Day Grant Scheme is a government funded programme that supports community and cultural projects related to Windrush Day. It aims to help organisations deliver activities that celebrate the legacy of the Windrush generation.
Do you run Windrush Day workshops or events?
Yes. I run Windrush Day raffia embroidery workshops, take part in panel discussions, particpate in event market stalls and can provide products for client gifting. In my sessions I can help the audience explore heritage, storytelling, and creative expression linked to Windrush Day.
My services are suitable for community groups, organisations, and educational settings. Anyone interested in booking or finding out more can contact me at hello@tiharasmith.com or check out this page for more information.
About Tihara Smith
Tihara is a fashion designer and textile artist passionate about design, the Caribbean and sharing the Windrush story. She loves creating distinctive pieces that allow people to have a little piece of the Caribbean 🌴✨
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