Celebrate National Windrush Day by sharing your story

To mark National Windrush Day 2023, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is inviting local people to share their stories and the stories of loved ones as part of a Human Library event on Tuesday 18 July in the Academy at the Great Western Hospital, from 1pm until 4pm.

The Trust is using this important date to celebrate the work of its black, Asian, and other ethnic minority colleagues and their significant contributions to the NHS, which is also marking its 75th year.

A Human Library is a collection of people who act as the ‘Books’, sharing their story with people who want to learn more about people with a different life experience based on ethnicity, disability, sexuality, age, or socio-economic background.

This intergenerational event will bring together stories from past and present, exploring how times have changed and highlighting our shared history and experiences of being someone from an ethnic minority background living in the UK and working for the NHS.

If you, or someone you know, made the legendary Windrush journey, and might be interested in sharing their story or being part of this local event, please contact sharon.woma@nhs.net.

Background

From 1948 to today, the NHS has always welcomed talent from around the world. Staff, past and present, are invited to attend to share their stories, alongside people from the local community.

Windrush Day marks the anniversary of 22 June 1948 when HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK, carrying over 1,000 passengers from the West Indies. Mainly former service personnel, this was the first wave of post war immigration with many of the passengers taking up roles in the NHS, which launched just two weeks later.