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

Building Bridges E-Book: Bridging Past Narratives to Present Understanding Unlock the rich tapestry of historical narratives with the Building Bridges E-Book, a captivating resource tailored for students aged 11-16 in the subjects of Citizenship, History, PSHE, and English. This 8-page black and white PDF offers a profound exploration of the experiences of the white community witnessing the arrival of Caribbean people in Britain post-World War II, spanning from 1948 to 1962. Key Features: Holistic Learning Approach: Subjects Covered: Citizenship, History, PSHE, and English. Age Group: Designed for 11-16-year-olds. Heritage Lottery Funded Project: Building Bridges Workshops: Originating from three oral history workshops held in Camden in July 2008, the resource is part of the Heritage Lottery-funded educational project Building Bridges. The workshops facilitated interviews and discussions between secondary school students and elders from the host community, covering diverse topics such as work, schooling, housing, cultural & social changes, and impact on family life. Heartfelt Interviews and Discussions: Primary Sources: The E-Book is based on social history research and includes poignant interviews and discussions with English elders and students from the London borough of Camden. Supporting Photographic Archives: Visual Richness: Filled with never-before-seen photographic archives, the resource provides a visual journey through the past, enhancing students’ understanding of the historical context. Model General Questions: Engaging Dialogue: The E-Book includes model general questions, offering insights into the emotional impact of witnessing Caribbean people arriving after the war. It features memorable quotes, such as Elder Bob’s recollection of encountering black children for the first time. Messages to Young Black Children: Words of Wisdom: The resource concludes with uplifting messages, like Elder Imogen’s advice to young black children, emphasizing the importance of being proud of one’s background. Versatile Visuals: Inspiring Creativity: Visual images within the pack allow pupils to share ideas and explore concepts, whether telling a story or comparing 1940s fashion to present trends. Rooted in Oral Storytelling Tradition: Bridge to the Future: The E-Book is firmly rooted in the tradition of oral storytelling, bringing forth unheard stories of the past to build a bridge toward a better future for young people. Further supporting resources Building Bridges Documentary: available at https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/building-bridges-documentary-with-supporting-e-resources-12548962Complementing the E-Book, a half-hour documentary, produced and directed by Lorna Holder, premiered at the British Museum and aired on Teacher’s TV in 2008. The project was part of a Heritage Lottery-funded initiative by Full Spectrum Productions.

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."