Recently at LAE, members of the BAME network and Y12 politics students took part in a focus group, led by think tank British Future, about the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation. The conversation addressed the racial hardships that the Caribbean people endured, alongside the generational trauma that has occurred as a result.

Facilitated by British Future's representatives Cameron Pannell-Rae and Steve Ballinger, interactive tasks were organised that stimulated discussions about the ways in which the 75th anniversary of the Windrush generation could be celebrated today. Examples included evaluating the numerous cultural activities to appreciate the sacrifices undertaken through the medium of film and music and reflecting on how the flawed education system could be reconstructed to increase the awareness that young people have about Windrush. Suggestions included the concept of moving away from the typical narrative of a glorified Britain, and towards incorporating cultural sensitivity into our curriculums.

Not only did the workshop enable us to expand our knowledge and insight on the generational divide that was created due to Windrush, but it also strengthened our core understanding about the history behind the events.

We were able to share our opinions about Empire Windrush and found connections between it and many other social factors that affect British society today, such as immigration, racial laws, and prejudice. Everyone was very mindful about Windrush, and held mature discussions, whilst trying to find solutions to bring more awareness towards its impact on Britain.

As part of such a diverse focus group, we were able to establish connections and learn from one another,  consolidating our discussion with a Q&A session which reinforced the importance of learning about Windrush and considering how to bridge the gap between generations who were affected by this.

For our contributions to the Windrush study, we were kindly given Amazon gift vouchers which we are immensely grateful for.  We would also like to personally thank Ms. Macpherson and Tamia for arranging this engaging workshop, and British Future for facilitating it.

Riya, Tamia and Imaan, Year 12 

_{The Windrush generation refers to anyone who immigrated to Britain from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1973, especially the first large group who arrived on the ship MV Empire Windrush in 1948.}