Research documents- the real voices and stories of Caribbean women shedding light on their childhood experiences in Britain during the 1960s. The document, available in both Word and PDF formats, caters to age coding 11-16 and spans across subjects such as Citizenship, Drama, and Modern History. With 8 pages and three supporting images. Key Highlights: Diverse Perspectives: The document captures the voices of four Caribbean women, including those born in the Caribbean and one born in England during the 1960s. Their narratives offer a rich tapestry of experiences, from being left behind when parents migrated to England to the challenges of adapting to a new culture. Themes Explored: Adaptation: The women share their experiences of trying to fit into British life, attending school, and grappling with feelings of difference. Responsibilities: There is a poignant exploration of the resentment and responsibilities shouldered by those left behind, including caring for younger siblings born in England. Quotable Voices: Yvonne’s reflection on the differences between life in England and Jamaica, highlighting the impact on freedom and daily life. Mealta’s account of the responsibilities she took on, emphasizing the challenges faced upon arrival. Billie Ann’s struggle to reform a relationship with her mother due to the lack of bonding during her early years. Zoë Elaine’s narrative, born in Northwest London, providing insight into her coming of age amidst social injustice. Educational Use: Teacher Resource: An invaluable tool for teachers, offering opportunities to develop students’ knowledge of the global movement of families and communities. Versatile Adaptation: Teachers can adapt and create unique activities, including comprehension questions and research projects, aligning with Citizenship, Drama, and Modern History studies. Rooted in Tradition: The resource maintains a strong connection to the oral storytelling tradition of the Windrush generation, offering authentic and relatable content. Book Source: Extracts are from the book “Living Under One Roof” written by Lorna Holder in 2005, providing a solid foundation for the narratives. Visual Support: The resource is complemented by a supporting 1960s photograph of a family in Northwest London and an illustration depicting the mode of travel, symbolically using family photographs to communicate with loved ones left behind. Conclusion: “Childhood Memories” serves as a poignant and educational resource, providing a platform for understanding the complexities of identity, belonging, and family life among Caribbean women in England during the transformative 1960s. It encourages open conversations, promotes cultural understanding, and offers a bridge between generations.

A short video from the Jamaica Hidden Histories educational resource pack. Community elders in London, UK, shared their experiences growing up in Jamaica at the dawn of independence from Britain in 1962 with young people. They talk about how family and cultural backgrounds shaped and strengthened their identity and sense of belonging within their community. Subjects History, English & PSHE - Stage 3, Year 9 students.

This poem by Vida Harris gives a cheerful account of Caribbean life in Nottingham in the 1960s. The poem serves as a creative guide for students, illustrating how to weave historical facts into engaging narratives. Age: 11-16, subjects: Poetry, English, Citizenship, Drama, Social History, Research, and Essay Skills. Two pages in Word and PDF formats. For parents engaged in homeschooling, the poem provides a relaxed and enjoyable approach to children’s education. A Research document: enables teachers to create question and answer worksheets from the narrative, facilitating structured engagement with the poem. The resource aids teachers and students in developing knowledge and understanding of the global movement of families and communities, fostering cultural awareness. Poet, Vida Theodosia Harris was born in Jamaica where she experienced an idyllic Caribbean childhood. Vida has lived in the United Kingdom since 1957, spending most of her life in the Midlands. She worked as a nurse for many years in the Nottingham Health Service. She is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who finds time to be a poet and women’s leader and enabler. Her energy and inspiration come from her warm and deeply committed Christian faith. Vida exudes an air of confidence and ability to instill an air of calmness in people she meets. Vida has published many poems in diaries over the past years and compiled two books with over two hundred gems. In April 2003 she was filmed by Carlton TV reading some of her moving poems whilst leading a community prayer session with a group of local Nottingham women. Her book, Brighter Days was a Nottingham Waterstone best seller. Vida travels all over the world to visit her children and grandchildren to places including Australia, Cuba, Hong Kong, Israel, Turkey, America, Europe, and some of the Caribbean Islands. Her Christian belief, life experiences including the sad death of a beloved daughter on the ill-fated 1989 Marchioness riverboat disaster and travels have all served as sources of inspiration for her poignant poetry. Crinoline- Photographer Esmel May Woma copyright: Tuareg Productions/Mary Evans Picture Library

Discover a pivotal piece of British social history through the compelling oral account of Roy Wilks, a former Black Coal Miner from Nottingham. This resource serves as an invaluable exploration of the mining community in Nottingham during the 1960s, providing a nuanced understanding of specific places and working conditions. Key Information: Document Type: Social History Research Age Range: 11-16 years Subjects: History, Citizenship, Community, Identity, and Diversity Format: 4 pages in both Word and PDF formats Overview: Roy Wilks opens a window into his life, articulating the decisions that led him to work as a coal miner in Britain. The resource not only captures the essence of his journey but also offers crucial insights into the broader context of Caribbean men working in the mining community during the 1960s. Content Highlights: Tailor to Miner: Wilks recounts his initial profession as a tailor in Jamaica and the promises he made to his mother, promising not to work in the British coal mines. Employment Journey: From the Job Centre to his first job at Beeston Boiler, we gain a glimpse into Wilks’ experiences, including interactions with other foreign workers and overcoming language barriers. Gedling Colliery: The narrative unfolds as Wilks applies for work at Gedling Colliery, his first formal training job. He shares the fears associated with working in the mines. Details of Work: The document provides specifics such as hours worked, salary, clothing worn, type of coal mined, and workplace conflicts. These details enable students to create essays, stage plays, and form narratives for short videos. Educational Value: An excellent resource for Black History Month teaching, offering a profound understanding of the contributions made by the Windrush generation. Additional Resources: For further engagement with this subject, do look at the Moving Out video on TES. The Coal Miner Roy Wilks gives his short account working down the mines. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/moving-out-video-12293010 The Coal Miner’s story is an extract from the Moving Out book, by Lorna Holder

Oral history transcript of Monica, a Jamaican elder who gives a very personal account of her journey to Britain in the 1950s. Research document around family life and values; subjects, English, Modern History, Citizenship, and Drama. Age coding 11-16. Teachers and parents can create unique learning activities to help stimulate classroom and home-school discussions on embracing differences and change. Monica talks about her last day in Jamaica and excitement on going on an airplane and the financial support given by her father. Next, we hear how she followed her parents’ wishes saying, " One thing my parents instilled in me was the idea that you would not have a child before you were married." She talks about her husband and having children, the changes Jamaica Independence would bring, and why they decided to remain in England because, " Being British, at that time the education system was something to look upon." However, she still had to fight for the rights of her children not to get left behind in the classroom. Monica talks about the cultural and social differences between a Jamaican and English family, the importance of manners and discipline, and how we must preserve our heritage. This resource will help, in creative writing and short monologue performances. It invites educators and students to explore, reflect, and celebrate the rich tapestry of identities within our shared history. Interview by the Oral Historian Sharon Rappaport for the Cultural Re-Awaking Conference for the Jamaica Hidden Histories project, 2012-2015, at the Metropolitan Archives in 2013. Jamaica Hidden Histories is an educational project by Full Spectrum Productions, supported by The Heritage Lottery Fund and produced by Lorna Holder.

A research document designed to enlighten teachers, parents, and students about the experiences of Caribbean nurses who contributed to the NHS during the 1950s and 1960s. This is a 4-page resource, available in PDF and Word formats. Subjects: History, Social History and Citizenship. Age range -14-16. This resource unfolds the oral history account of Mrs. Mary Lawrence, a trailblazing individual who journeyed from the Caribbean to Britain in 1962 and entered the profession of nursing in 1964. Mrs. Lawrence vividly recalls the perception of nursing as a prestigious profession during that era, offering unique insights into the training and working environment within the NHS in the 1960s. Mrs. Lawrence tells us about the various nursing categories, titles, and demanding training regimens, revealing that dedication often required 48 hours of weekly ward duty alongside qualified colleagues. The resource sheds light on, etiquette, manners, presentation, and patient care, illustrating the nuances of a nurse’s role in that era. Mrs. Lawrence reflects on the challenges of questioning decisions made by superiors, providing a glimpse into the professional dynamics of the time. Enhancing the narrative are two supporting archive images capturing Caribbean nurses in Nottingham during the 1960s, photographed by Esmel Woma. These visual elements enrich the learning experience, offering a glimpse into the historical context. This resource will help teachers and parents create engaging activities for both classroom and home learning. Particularly relevant for Black History Month, it offers a positive and inspiring account of the significant contribution made by the Windrush generation to the NHS. “Caribbean Nurses in Britain” is an extract from the Moving Out book by Lorna Holder.

This resource will help students to understand the painful experience many families endured in London during the Second World War, 1939 -1945. It also deals with the heartfelt decisions individuals made in leaving loved ones behind to find a new life in a foreign country. It is the oral history of Belle Johansson, a Camden elder who shared her experience of living during the blitz and losing six family members. She talked about the stigma of TB in her family after the war and hoped that “people will walk by each other, and they will not notice their differences. " Bell tells us about her great nice who wanted to be Doctor of Science and how the family struggled to support her financially with her studies. Her great nice later took the opportunity to fulfill her dreams by leaving her close-knit family behind to go to Australia to study. Bell concludes, “it was a great wrench when she went, for her and us.” The final narrative shows the family was able to meet up again in Australia, bringing joy to all. This two-page document and supporting archive images is perfect for older students to get an overview of history and shared life experiences and can help in writing narratives for a book, magazine, stage plays, and film. The resource is useful for parents and teachers for home teaching, helping to participate in interactive discussions with students about family heritage, identity, and belonging. Parents and teachers can also create their unique comprehension worksheets for students, based on issues raised in the narrative. Belle Johansson’s oral history was part of the Heritage lottery funded project, The Ones We Left Behind, produced by Lorna Holder, 2006.

This short video takes a unique look at Industrial Nottingham through the eyes of the 1960s Windrush workers . Places of work includes, Gedling Colliery (coal mining) Raleigh (bicyle factory) as well as Boots, and the NHS. Research content allows teachers and parents to create unique learning activities for students to aid homelearning and beyond. It is entertaining with unique archive images, 1960s ska music, and contributions from Caribbean elders, sharing their heartwarming stories of working in 1960s Britain. It will enable Key Stage 3- Year 9 students from diverse backgrounds to research their own cultural identity and have a better sense of belonging. Moving Out was produced by Lorna Holder for Full Spectrum Productions in 2007 and supported by Heritage Lottery Fund.

Secondary school students, parents and community providers will understand more about creating intergenerational discussions on feelings and memories of home. The theme, the things we brought with us when we left our homelands, is open to all ages and communities. Subjects, Social History, English, Citizenship, Art, Art & Design. This video created at the British Museum for the Jamaica Hidden Histories Project in 2014, included participants from Fine Art and History students from Haverstock School Camden, and four elders from Open Age in Brent. The vibrant mix of students from migrant communities with Chinese, English, Gambian, Irish, Italian, Somalian, and South Sudanese heritage spoke passionately about their objects. The Jamaican and Trinidadian elders, too, spoke with great sentiment, knowledge, and fondness of the things they brought. All the objects represented their personal experiences, identity, and culture. Jamaica Hidden Histories is a Heritage Lottery Fund project, by Full Spectrum Productions 2012-2015. Tuareg Productions produced the resource.

Video- 15 minutes long. A Lesson starter for age 16+ in subjects: Drama, English and Citizenship. Based on research into the oral histories of Britain’s Filipino community at the Centre of Filipinos in London in 2006. About families separated by continents, and their stories forming the basis for truthful, high-quality dramas, which genuinely celebrate diversity. Teachers can create unique learning activities to explore the many issues raise in the video. The majority of the workshop participants were women, which is an accurate reflection of the make-up of the community. Filipino economic migration to Europe coincided with a demand for domestic workers. There were stories of wives and mothers leaving their families behind and becoming breadwinners for their extended families. ‘Departure Lounge,’ a dramatic monologue written and produced by Lorna Holder. Nena, a woman in her forties, sits nervously, waiting for the boarding announcement in the departure lounge at the airport. Now returning to the Philippines after 25 years working in the U.K, Nena has to make a final decision; should she return to the Philippines, to the husband she hardly knows and son whose childhood she missed? Or should she remain working for the family who employ her and the ‘adopted’ English children she has raised? The video has a supporting e-book The Ones We Left Behind available on Tes.

Oral history transcripts spanning three generations of women of Jamaican and British heritage. Rooted in the tradition of oral storytelling, this learning resource encourages teachers to craft unique activities, lesson plans, and comprehension questions. It empowers students to explore their cultural identity and prompts independent research. Tailored for Key Stage 3, Year 9 students, this resource supports subjects like History, English, Geography, Citizenship, Media Studies, and Drama. Ideal for both classroom use and homeschooling, these interviews, conducted by Oral Historian Sharon Rappaport, offer profound insights. Parents can use this resource to educate their children about their heritage, fostering a stronger sense of identity and belonging. Diverse communities can find shared values and experiences within these narratives. These oral interviews are part of the Jamaican Hidden Histories project (2012-2015), produced by Lorna Holder for Full Spectrum Productions. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, this project aims to unearth and communicate information about Jamaica’s distinctive cultural identity and its links with Britain. The Cultural Re-Awakening Conference in 2013 marked the project’s inception, featuring diverse workshops, talks, discussions, storytelling, and oral history interviews. The nine-page interview transcripts, accompanied by powerful images, provide a comprehensive learning tool. These images include the Jamaica Hidden Histories banner, capturing the historical context, a photograph of female drummers at the event’s opening, and the conference flyer. Uncover the stories that shape identity and belonging, fostering a deeper understanding of cultural heritage. Explore the captivating narratives captured in the Hanging Out trailer, also produced by Lorna Holder, available on Tes."

Video of a stage production showing the difficulties a married couple from Trinidad faced, in adapting to life in 1960s Birmingham. The main character, Lattisha, once prosperous and glamorous, could not cope with living in one room, doing manual work, and dealing with her husband, Samson, an unfaithful Calypsonian singer, leading to mental health issues. A resource to help form the basis of conversation around issues of migration, family life, work, mental health, identity and belonging. Teachers and parents can create unique learning activities for Black History Month, for homeschooling during holidays and beyond. Subjects, Social History, English & Drama, Age code: 14-18 Comes with supporting images. Set in 1960s Birmingham , the monologue Indigo Blue Room highlights some of the issues of social exclusion still pertinent today. It was performed and filmed at the King’s School in Worcester in 2004, starring Indra Ove and Leon Herbert. The monologue, Indigo Blue Room was written and produced by Lorna Holder, based on the Living Under One Roof stage play written in 2003.