Guidance
Windrush Monument: Education resources
Resources to educate young people about the Windrush story and to recognise the significant contributions of the British Caribbean communities to the UK.
To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush, we have created educational resources to educate young people about the Windrush story and to recognise the significant contributions of the British Caribbean communities to the UK. These resources cater to both primary and secondary school students and can be utilised within schools and the broader community.
Age group 7-11
Our resources for children aged 7-11 include a student led Windrush discovery lesson, aimed at introducing the topic and fostering group discussions. Additionally, we offer a Windrush animation that narrates the story of the HMT Empire Windrush and its passengers, to help pupils understand who the Windrush generation are and the positive contributions they have made. Our animation activity extends the learning further with a literacy-based task.
Age group 11-14
Designed for children aged 11-14, our resources feature a student led Windrush discovery lesson that serves as an introduction to the topic and encourages dynamic group discussions. In addition, we provide the Windrush voices lesson, which delves into the lives of two distinct individuals from the Windrush generation, enabling a comprehensive study of their personal experiences and their significant contributions to Britain. The accompanying Windrush voices activity extends the learning with a research-based task.
Age group 14-16
For students aged 14-16, our resources include a student led Windrush discovery lesson, which serves as an engaging introduction to the topic and encourages dynamic group discussions. Complementing this, our Windrush interactive timeline details extraordinary achievements of notable figures from the Windrush generation and their descendants. Extend the learning with our Windrush timeline activity that encourages further exploration and research.
Windrush Timeline - text version
- 13 December 1930 - Empire Windrush is launched in Hamburg, Germany as the MV Monte Rosa, a cruise ship to take German travellers across Europe and South America.
- 1945 - The MV Monte Rosa is captured as a prize of war by the British Armed Forces.
- 1945 - The end of World War II. During the war, many Caribbean people came to Britain to help with the war effort, largely returning to the Caribbean at the end.
- 1946 - The MV Monta Rosa is renamed the HMT Empire Windrush. The ship takes its name from the River Windrush in the Cotswolds. Many merchant ships controlled by the British during and after the Second World War began their name with ‘Empire’.
- 1948 - Local advertisements are displayed in Caribbean countries inviting their citizens to come and work in Britain. Passage on the Empire Windrush would cost them £28 and 10 shillings - about £1000 in today’s money.
- 22 June 1948 - The Windrush arrives at Tilbury Docks, Essex and the people aboard become the first wave of post-war immigration to Britain. Many are ex-servicemen who fought for Britain in World War II.
- August 1948 - Mona Baptiste, Trinidadian singer and actress, first appears with Lord Beginner on BBC radio. She will later become one of the pioneering black female artists in British music.
- January 1949 - The British Nationality Act comes into effect, giving people who live in Commonwealth countries the right to live in the UK.
- 1951 - Lord Kitchener, the legendary Trinidadian musician who became known as the ‘grand master of calypso’ records his famous song ‘London is the Place for Me’.
- 1956 - More than 40,000 Caribbean citizens are believed to have now settled in Britain.
- April 1956 - Transport for London begin a direct recruitment campaign in the Caribbean that ran until 1970 resulting in many Caribbean citizens working on the railways, underground and buses.
- 2 December 1956 - Winifred Atwell, popular Trinidadian pianist, becomes the first black person to go to number one in UK singles chart.
- 1958 - More than 125,000 Caribbean citizens are now believed to have settled in Britain with Brixton in south London becoming the unofficial capital of black Britain, with many others also settling outside of London.
- August 1958 - Riots break out in Notting Hill becoming later known as the Notting Hill riots. The primary cause of the riots was racial hostility and discrimination against the growing Caribbean migrant community in Notting Hill, fuelled by racial prejudices and fears of economic competition. However, the riots brought issues of racial discrimination to the forefront, paving the way for subsequent social and legislative changes.
- 1959 - A ‘Caribbean Carnival’ is held in St Pancras Town Hall as a response to the Notting Hill riots. The event was organised by the Trinidadian journalist and activist Claudia Jones and televised by the BBC. This event would form the roots of the current Notting Hill carnival.
- 1959 - Ska music begins to arrive in Britain through Jamaican immigrants. Inspired by American R&B and Trinidadian Calypso music, it was a genre of music that was popular with younger black people at this time and was later adopted by The Mods, a new subcultural movement in the 1960s.
- 1960 - Lord Woodbine, Trinidadian calypso musician and music promoter, helps organise the Beatles’ first visit to Hamburg. He acted as mentor/manager for the Beatles in their formative teenage years, and was arguably instrumental in launching the careers of one of the biggest bands of all time.
- 1961 - Lord David Pitt, a doctor and politician, born in Grenada, is elected a member for Hackney for the London County Council (LCC), becoming the first black person to serve in a local government position. He will be become a member of the House of Lords in 1975.
- 1963 - A local black community in Bristol, led by community worker Paul Stephenson, boycott the Bristol Omnibus Company to challenge the refusal to employ black or Asian bus crews. The boycott, which later became known as the Bristol Bus Boycott, lasted for four months and successfully pressured the company to end its discriminatory policies, marking a significant milestone in the fight against racial injustice in Britain.
- 1964 - The Campaign Against Racial Discrimination (CARD) is founded by a group of activists including Trinidadian born Jocelyn Barrow. She goes on to lead the campaign against racial discrimination regarding employment in London’s Oxford Street and later becomes the first black woman to become a governor of the BBC. In 1992 she is appointed DBE and becomes the first black woman to be honoured as a “Dame”.
- 1965 - The Race Relations Act of 1965 is passed banning racial discrimination in public places and also banning the promotion of hatred on the grounds of race, or ethnic origins an offence. The act was a landmark piece of legislation that established the legal framework for combating racial discrimination.
- 1966 - The first outdoor Notting Hill Carnival that we recognise today takes place. This festival was used to promote cultural unity featuring colourful parades, vibrant costumes, lively music, and delicious Caribbean food. In the following decades it will attract millions of visitors each year and become an iconic symbol of multiculturalism and diversity in London.
- 1968 - The Race Relations Act of 1968 is passed expanding upon the earlier 1965 Act by introducing stricter provisions against racial discrimination in public places, employment, and housing.
- Late 1960s - Reggae music starts to arrive in Britain through Jamaican immigrants, growing in popularity in the 1970s. Its influence will extend beyond the music scene, shaping British youth culture particularly the Punk movement which will arrive in the 1970s.
- 1969 - British-Trinidadian cricketer, lawyer and politician, Lord Learie Constantine is awarded a peerage and becomes the first black man to sit in the House of Lords due to his work fighting against racial discrimination, which ultimately contributed to the passing of the 1965 Race Relations Act in the UK.
- 1971 - The Immigration Act is passed, introducing a new system aiming to regulate immigration through visa requirements and work permits. This changed the law to grant only temporary residence to most people arriving from Commonwealth countries. This came into force in 1973 and ended the influx of people from the Caribbean. Men born in Commonwealth countries (and their wives and children) who settled in the UK before 1973 were still allowed to remain in the UK indefinitely under the terms of the new Act.
- 1975 - Louisa Marks, at just 14 years old, releases the song ‘Caught You in a Lie’ which became a significant hit in the UK and ushered in a new style of music - lover’s rock. This genre of music emerged as a fusion of reggae and soul and was created by the second generation of Windrush immigrants, predominantly from the sound systems of south London.
- 1978 - British-Jamaican footballer Viv Anderson makes his debut for England becoming the first black footballer to play for the England national football team. He will be awarded an MBE in 2000 for services to football.
- 1980 - British-Jamaican writer and dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah releases his debut book of poetry, ‘Pen Rhythm’. Despite struggling to read and write due to having dyslexia, he will continue to write many more books tackling themes of social justice, equality, and racial identity using his distinctive style of reggae, dub poetry, and street language to create a unique and impactful voice. His work will resonate with and inspire audiences worldwide.
- 1987 - British-Jamaican politician, Diane Abbott is elected to parliament, becoming the first black woman elected to parliament. She will later become the longest-serving black MP.
- 1987 - The first Black History Month in the UK is celebrated and organised to highlight and promote the contributions and experiences of black people in British history and society. It will go on to become an annual event in the UK, dedicated to acknowledging the rich heritage, achievements, and struggles of the black community.
- 1987 - John Barnes, of Trinidadian and Jamaican descent, joins Liverpool Football Club. He will go on to become one of the first high-profile black players in English football and would win the Football League First Division and FA Cup twice each. He will be awarded an MBE in 1998 for services to sport.
- 1990 - British-Jamaican boxer Chris Eubank wins the World Boxing Organisation middleweight title. He will go on to hold multiple world titles throughout his career. His boxing prowess, combined with his charismatic persona, made him one of the most recognisable and popular figures in British boxing during the 1990s.
- 1991 - British-Jamaican footballer Ian Wright joins Arsenal Football Club. He will go on to score a total of 185 goals for the club, becoming one of the all-time leading goal scorers at the time of his departure. He will be awarded an MBE in 2000 for his services to football.
- 1992 - British-Jamaican athlete Linford Christie wins gold in the 100m at the Barcelona Olympics, becoming, at 32, the oldest man to do so. He is the only British man to have won gold medals in the 100 metres at all four major competitions open to British athletes: the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the European Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
- 1998 - The public space outside what is now the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton is renamed Windrush Square to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush.
- 2000 - British-Jamaican author Zadie Smith publishes her debut novel, ‘White Teeth’, which garners widespread critical acclaim and earns her international fame. She will go on to write many more acclaimed books and will be celebrated for her rich character development, intricate storytelling, and astute observations on race, class, and culture.
- 2001 - British-Barbadian author Malorie Blackman publishes her young adult novel ‘Noughts & Crosses’ which explores themes of race, discrimination and love in a fictional world divided between the ruling Crosses and the oppressed Noughts. She will earn numerous awards and recognition, including the position of Children’s Laureate from 2013 to 2015 and an OBE in 2008 for services to literature.
- 2001 - British-Trinidadian actress, singer, presenter, author Floella Benjamin is awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting. In 2010 she will be appointed a life peer, being titled Baroness Benjamin, of Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley.
- 2008 - Director, screenwriter and video artist, Steve McQueen, of Grenadian and Trinidadian descent, debuts his first feature-length film, ‘Hunger’, at the Cannes Film Festival. He will go on to make many more films, including ‘12 Years a Slave’, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2014, making McQueen the first black filmmaker to receive the award.
- 2012 - A model of the HM Empire Windrush is featured in the London 2012 Olympics’ opening ceremony.
- 2012 - British–Jamaican footballer Raheem Sterling makes his debut appearance for Liverpool Football Club. He will later move to Manchester City Football Club and achieve extraordinary success helping the club win back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.
- 2014 - British make-up artist Pat McGrath of Jamaican descent, is appointed an MBE for her services to fashion and the beauty industry. She will later be appointed a DBE in 2020, making her the first make-up artist to be made a Dame Commander of the British Empire.
- 2016 - Marcus Rashford, renowned footballer of Kittitian descent, makes his debut appearance for the England Football Team and becomes the youngest English player to score in their first senior international match. He will go on to become one of Manchester United’s star players winning the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, the FA Community Shield, and the UEFA Europa League.
- 22 June 2018 - The UK celebrates its first national Windrush Day, a day set up to pay homage to the Windrush generation and their descendants.
- 2018 - The Windrush Commemoration Committee, chaired by Baroness Benjamin, is established to create a permanent and fitting tribute to the Windrush Generation and their descendants.
- 2019 - The Windrush Compensation Scheme, which was designed in consultation with those affected, is implemented to right the wrongs experienced by the Windrush generation who had arrived in the UK legally and contributed to British society for decades, but were subjected to wrongful treatment due to changes in immigration policies. The Scheme provides payments to eligible individuals who did not have the right documentation to prove their status in the UK and suffered adverse effects on their life as a result.
- 22 June 2022 - The National Windrush Monument, created by Basil Watson, is unveiled at Waterloo station in London by HRH Prince William. The bronze statue depicting a man, woman and child standing on a stack of suitcases, stands as a tribute to the dreams, ambition and resilience of the Windrush pioneers who arrived in Britain after World War II and helped rebuild this country.
- 22 June 2023 - The UK celebrates the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush alongside the contributions the Caribbean community have made to the country.