Mayor Celebrates Windrush Day with Fundraising Bake Sale at Kuumba Centre
Wednesday 22nd June 2022 marked Windrush Day. Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation celebrated and remembered when around 500 migrants from the Caribbean arrived at Tilbury Docks in Essex in 1948 by hosting a Fundraising Bake Sale to raise some vital funds for their charity.
The Worshipful the Mayor of Sandwell, Councillor Richard Jones attended the event and made an opening speech about Windrush Day.
The Mayor said:” I believe that the Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation symbolises the fortitude and feistiness of its Windrush descendants. It too has faced its own tribulations and struggles; yet like the Caribbean migrants two generations ago, and its founders almost three decades ago, it has remained unwavering in its insistence to speak up for people from the African Caribbean community who have and are still experiencing issues with mental health but most importantly, Kuumba as it is affectionately known, works passionately to create partnerships with its users to have their needs met as well as their desires and aspirations, so they too can contribute to their community.
The backdrop to our celebrations is this lovely bake sale – we can fill our stomachs and purchase a range of delicious baked goods to help raise much needed funds to support this valued community mental health provision.”
The bake sale included a range of delicious cakes such as lemon drizzle, banana cake, pineapple cake and chocolate fudge cake which were all baked by staff members and donated by several companies. Island Delight in Hockley donated patties, Kerry’s Tasty Cakes in Walsall donated several cakes, and Sunrise Bakery in Birmingham also donated. Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation would like to thank them for their generosity.
Several outstanding achievements awards were given to three people who use the charities’ services. The achievements were for overcoming personal barriers, securing employment through motivation and determination and a special award was given to a member who has successfully wrote and published his first book.
The day ended with an interactive seminar hosted by Ms Ifemu Omari-Webber, PhD researcher. The seminar encouraged people to reminisce about Windrush migration to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s and to reflect on the resilience and the downright feistiness of newcomers from the Caribbean who were determined to challenge deep-seated prejudices and at the same time to have fun and laughter in their lives.
You can watch the Windrush monument unveiling at Waterloo Station here.
