Music festival born out of Windrush injustice

The founder of the Windrush Generation of Stoke-on-Trent support group is staging a music festival this weekend.

Robbie Campbell formed the group after discovering that neighbours who arrived from the Caribbean and West Indies in the 1960s and 1970s were having to prove their UK residency.

Saturday’s event is a chance for the whole community to socialise and raise money for a good cause.

“If we can make everybody think about how they treat other people then I think that's the legacy I'd like to leave,” said Mr Campbell.

Mr Campbell started the social group in 2018.

At that time, many Windrush migrants had their legal status in the UK called into question, despite living in the country for decades.

“Some people in Jamaica were stranded there, could not return to the UK and they still fight for compensation to this very day,” stated Mr Campbell.

He referred to Amos Mullings, who left Jamaica for Stoke-on-Trent at 25 years old.

After breaking his back working in the mines for many years, he retired to his homeland.

But as his health worsened, he was refused access to return the UK to be cared for by his son.

The family submitted multiple applications over five years before Mr Mullins was eventually given permission to return to Staffordshire.

He has not received any compensation for the denied access.

Mr Campbell wants to channel that frustration into community events that make everyone feel welcome.

“We are a multicultural group and we welcome people of all ethnicity and religions,” he said.

Lorna Salman left Jamaica at 12 years old and worked as a midwife at North Staffordshire Maternity Hospital.

She described the treatment of some of the Windrush generation as "despicable".

She said she applauded what Mr Campbell had planned for the festival.

“I'm always interested in anything that is going to promote cohesion,” she smiled.

“We're all one people.”

Windrush Generation Music Festival takes place between 12:00-20:00 BST on Saturday at Smithpool Park in Fenton.

Although it is a free event, proceeds raised will go to Orchards, a charity working to free women from sexual exploitation.

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