Eight community groups across Bolton and Manchester have received almost £80,000 to mark the 75th anniversary of Windrush.

The date, which falls on Thursday June 22, commemorates the historic event in 1948 when HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK, carrying more than 1,000 passengers from the West Indies.

Mainly former service personnel, this was the first wave of post war immigration.

National Lottery grants of up to £10,000 are being made available throughout the year for communities to come together to celebrate and reflect upon the huge contribution that Windrush pioneers and their families have made across the country. 

Almost £1 million has been awarded to more than 100 Windrush 75-related projects across the UK to date.

These include projects in Bolton and Manchester that showcase music, storytelling and poetry events, educational exhibitions, and school workshops.

Caribbean and African Health Network in Manchester will host a Windrush 75 Health Walk and Festival that has been designed, produced and delivered with older Caribbean people and their families and Black-led community groups.

The event takes place on Saturday, June 24 at Alexandra Park in Manchester and will celebrate the contributions of local Windrush communities through storytelling, performances and educational exhibitions.

Dr Faye Bruce DL, chair of the Caribbean and African Health Network, said: “Both my parents arrived in the UK in 1961 having given up their home in Jamaica in the hope of building a better life for themselves and their family. They worked in some of the worst conditions and persisted with resilience for the sake of their children.

“Celebrating Windrush is important to me and the Caribbean and African Health Network because their story is not unique, but a real opportunity to salute, commemorate, recognise and celebrate those that came and contributed to UK society for the sake of future generations.”

Blondel Cluff CBE, chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “As a daughter and granddaughter of members of the Windrush Generation, I know more than most how important their contribution and that of our forefathers has been to the making of modern Britain.

“As chair of The National Lottery Community Fund I am pleased that to mark the 75th anniversary, Windrush grants of up to £10,000 are available throughout this year. To not only celebrate our elders, but to undertake community endeavours that will help to achieve the aspirations of our amazing, selfless pioneers for whom community meant so very much.”

Windrush 75 grants of up to £10,000 are still available from The National Lottery Community Fund for activities taking place later this year, including for Black History Month in October.

Visit www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/news/blog to read Windrush 75 blogs which provide advice and top tips on how to apply and strengthen an application.

A free grant application clinic is taking place on Monday, June 26 from 4pm to 5pm, where people will hear about eligibility criteria, what grants can be spent on, and what The National Lottery Community Fund is looking for in an application.

Go towww.ticketsource.co.uk/the-national-lottery-community-fund to sign up.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.