2018 LAUNCH
Theme: Knowledge Empowers
In 2018 the very first BHM South Awards were established to be awarded to individuals or groups that have made contributions to the BME community worthy of note.
To celebrate 70 years since the Windrush generation arrived from the Caribbean, we dedicated our One Love Mural to The West Indian Club.
AWARD WINNERS
Marie Costa
Marie has contributed to the community in countless ways. Midwife, teacher and successful business woman. Since the early 1990s, she has been a member of various boards Portsmouth Local Strategic Partnership New Theatre Royal Diversity in Media South Portsmouth Multicultural Group Marie set up Portsmouth Race Equality Network Organisation and is the founder of the African Women’s Forum. African Womens Forum was established to foster and promote deeper understanding of the African community, particularly African women in Portsmouth.
Grace Powell
Grace is the Founder and Chair of The Basingstoke Caribbean Society & Friends also serves as Chair of the Reading Jamaica Society & Friends. She has worked tirelessly as a community activist and was Chair Basingstoke Multi Cultural Forum in 2005. The Communities of North Hampshire and Berkshire have been served wonderfully by Grace’s dedication and commitment to Diversity actively promoting African Caribbean Culture and Heritage.
Vilma Scott
A Key figure Southampton’s African Caribbean community for more than 30 years. Trustee of The West Itchen Community Trust Chair of the African Caribbean Centre Director of Black History Month South CIC. Vilma has also been a key player within many charities and voluntary organisations across the city, and this has been achieved whilst carving out a long and successful career in the health service.
One Love Mural
The West Indian Club, as well as being the essential meeting place for Caribbean people as early as the 1970s, was the centre of social activity in the Newtown/St. Mary’s area of Southampton. It was also one of the first physical locations of any of the BME communities and served as a template for other BME organisations that followed. Clearly the successful integration of Caribbean peoples has contributed to the closure of the Club but is also a success story for a multi-cultural and diverse Southampton. The Windrush scandal has had an effect on the Caribbean communities in the city and Caroline Nokes Southampton MP and Minister of State for Immigration has assisted in forging links with the Home Office Task Group set up to respond to individual cases. This year (2018) is the 70th anniversary of the Windrush and it seems fitting that we in Southampton recognise that as well as the contributions made by Southampton’s Caribbean communities. To this end, we are working with the Hampshire Fire Service and Southampton Solent University to design a mural celebrating the Caribbean communities on the front wall of St. Mary’s Fire Station to be unveiled for Black History Month 2018. It is hoped that this will ensure that the presence of this community will be remembered for it’s massive contribution to the city.
ARTISTS
Titilopemi Ajala
Brian Reed
LOCATION
UNVEILED 27th September 2018