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Insights from Voyage's Windrush Elders Project
The Undeniable Impact of Intergenerational Work: Insights from Voyage's Windrush Elders Project
At Voyage, we are proud to share a snapshot of our evaluation findings from our Windrush Elders Project, supported by the Near Neighbours Foundation 2024. This initiative, led by our Heritage Ambassadors, underscores the power of intergenerational work, reconnecting young people with their cultural roots and reasserting the significant contributions of African and Caribbean communities to the UK’s rich and vibrant history.
A striking 55% of our 15 strong team of Ambassadors had never known about the Windrush Generation before this project started. These young people—representing a diverse range of African, Caribbean, Arab, and mixed ethnic backgrounds—were introduced to the narratives and legacies of the Windrush pioneers for the first time. This project served as a vital reassertion of the African and Caribbean influence on the UK’s cultural tapestry, offering a much-needed counter-narrative to the historical marginalisation of these contributions. This is something we wish to build on by extending this work, exploring new ideas such as a Windrush Youth Touring Project - comparing and contrasting themes of community, identity and racism.
The project’s impact on our young people is hugely evident for example:
- 100% reported that connecting with different generations and ethnicities fostered a greater sense of community and purpose.
- 91% gained a deeper appreciation of the struggles and resilience of the Windrush Generation and their descendants.
- 82% expressed a desire to engage with more people from diverse backgrounds and attend further their cultural understanding.
- 64% of participants felt more inspired to pursue their ambitions and interests.
This intergenerational experience has proven to be a powerful catalyst for sociocultural understanding, bridging historical and contemporary divides, while fostering empathy and mutual respect. By engaging directly with the lived experiences of our Windrush elders, young participants were able to critically reflect on the complexities of migration, identity, and community.
At a time when the contributions of African and Caribbean communities are often overlooked, the Windrush Elders Project serves as a transformative tool for both historical reclamation and personal growth. This evaluation highlights the importance of reasserting the legacies of these communities within the broader narrative of British history, empowering younger generations to continue building on that legacy with greater pride and assertion.
By fostering dialogue across the generations, we are actively contributing to a future where young people not only recognise the contributions of those who came before them but also feel empowered to shape the future with a deeper understanding of their place within a diverse and inclusive society.
We look forward to sharing our book in the coming month.
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