WINDRUSH ENFIELD UNITE (WE Unite) PROJECT
This project celebrates the stories of the Windrush generation and descendants, the men, women and children who arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1971, helping to rebuild post-war Britain. Their contribution shaped modern British society, and their legacy lives on today through the stories, voices and lived experiences of Windrush generation and descendants.
WE Unite is a collaboration between Nexus, Enfield Black Heritage Hub, Rudolph Walker Foundation, and 2 Sweet Occasions Ltd. Supported by the 2026 Windrush Day Grant Scheme, the project celebrates the enduring impact of the Windrush generation in Enfield, culminating on 22 June 2026 with a vibrant Windrush Day celebration.
The programme brings this legacy to life through powerful storytelling, immersive cultural experiences, community oral histories and a shared celebration of Windrush heritage.
Digital Storytelling Experience
Legacy
The project creates lasting cultural and educational legacy, including:
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A talking bench and three QR code-linked storytelling benches
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An immersive Windrush Front Room with digital storytelling experiences and free citizen historian resource packs.
Digital Storytelling Experience
Park Benches
Narrated by renowned actor Rudolph Walker CBE, the talking bench and QR-linked benches share powerful stories from Windrush generation members and descendants, capturing memories of challenge, culture and achievements. This digital archive will continue to grow as new stories are added over time.
Immersive Windrush Front Room Exhibition
Curated by Dionne John, Chair of Enfield Black Heritage Hub, and Tamzin Adeshiyan-John, young author of the tribute children's book 'Nana's Front Room'. The immersive Windrush Front Room Exhibition recreates an eclectic 1960s–70s Caribbean front room, filled with authentic furnishings, photographs and cultural artefacts that bring Windrush history to life. Visitors can sit on the settee, rest a cup on the wooden centre table covered with a crochet doily and use QR codes and augmented reality (AR) to access interactive digital content, blending traditional storytelling with contemporary digital technology to create a powerful, immersive experience.
Community Oral History
At the heart of the project is community storytelling, bringing people together to preserve family histories and create resources that inspire future generations. A key early outcome is the development of a co-designed oral history and resource pack, shaped by feedback from participants in the oral history interviews.
This feedback identified the need for a simple, practical step-by-step guide to support individuals to capture, preserve and share their own family stories as citizen historians. The resource pack will be made available to attendees at the Windrush Day celebration from the Front Room immersive exhibition.
Windrush Day Celebration 2026
The Windrush Day celebration is a ticketed event (no tickets available at the event) and will take place on Windrush Day, 22 June 2026, featuring cultural food, performances, and storytelling that honour the enduring impact of the Windrush generation.
