Jo Kansara
Let's Dance for Windrush Friday April 3rd at 7.30pm The Bedford Ballroom
Fundraising for JCWI
Story
SADLY BUT FOR OBVIOUS REASONS WE HAVE DECIDED TO POSTPONE THIS EVENT UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF THE SUMMER.
ANY TICKET DONATIONS BELOW WILL BE HONOURED THEN.
THANK YOU AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.
Jo x
"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."
Bob Marley 1945 - 1981
In the name of community spirit and good times, 'Lets Dance for...' once again, proudly presents a comeback charity gig at The Bedford pub in Balham upstairs in their vintage Ballroom.
This time, we are raising funds for the Windrush Justice Fund to provide small grants and support to community groups and projects working with those affected by the Windrush Scandal. The money will provide advice, support and continue to fight for justice for those who need it wherever they are.
With the best live music covers, a very warm welcome back to BRICKWORK - who firmly blew the roof off at our last charity fundraiser - it's bound to be a blinder! They are supporting MAROON TOWN whose name is taken from a remote upland community in Jamaica formed by escaped slaves and who perform an explosive combination of exuberant rhythms drawing on the roots of authentic Jamaican ska and mixed with elements of rap, latin and funk.
For inclusion on the guest list, hit the DONATE tab below and simply leave your full name and number of guests, along with your kind donation of £10 per person.
See you on the dancefloor and thank you for reading.
Jo x
PS -
The Windrush generation refers to those who arrived from the West Indies between 1948 and 1971in order to fill labour shortages following World War Two. In 1948 as members of the Commonwealth they were British citizens. However, the law changed with the 1971 Immigration Act which gave Commonwealth citizens the right to remain in the UK. But the Home Office didn't issue them with any paperwork or keep a record of those that did stay.
In 2012, then Home Secretary Theresa May created a policy called the 'Hostile Environment' which made life much harder for Windrush arrivals because it made NHS staff, landlords and others demand evidence of citizenship with documents that many of the Windrush generation didn't have.
A significant number were dismissed from their jobs, evicted from accommodation and unable to access healthcare. Some were even put into detention and others deported despite living here and paying into the economy as taxpayers for decades.
Though Theresa May finally apologised and the government set up a compensation fund for those impacted, the scandal continues to this day. The fact that the Windrush generation were British citizens and should have been treated as such, some of them are still being held to unattainable standards to receive that citizenship and compensation for how they have been impacted.
That's why we are proud to be standing in solidarity with the victims of Windrush, not just to acknowledge their contribution to Britain but so that they can access advice and support from within their own local community organisations to urgently resolve their problems.
(The term 'Windrush generation' refers to the first wave of arrivals from the West Indies on 21st June 1948 onboard the old troop carrier the 'HMT Empire Windrush')