POWER OF COMMUNITY

THE NOW historic docking of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury

Docks was still comfortably within the collective memory in 1958 when Inez and Granville Henriques, along with some similarly aspirational friends, started advocating for fellow new arrivals from the Caribbean.

Their philanthropic efforts to connect those who were isolated, providing welfare and citizenship advice, which began in the front room of their new home in Wolverhampton, was soon formalised under the banner of the West Midlands Caribbean Parents’ and Friends’ Association.

By the mid-1960s, the Association became a registered company with a charitable arm and bought a house — at 372 Newhamp ton Road West, in the district of Whitmore Reans — at a time when the number of Caribbean-born homeowners were few and far between.

The abode grew to achieve legendary local status among the newly arrived from the Caribbean as a resource to aid their battles against the endemic discrimination and injustice that commonly stifled learning, employment and housing opportunities for those who were invited to the ‘Mother Country’ to build the UK economy and their lives.

The house remains under the Association’s ownership, still providing funds for its muchreduced programme which consists of a weekly Elders’ Group, which just like the Association it emerged from, is a rare and valued lifeline for a new section of the community for whom the social, economic and political climates have again conspired to limit access to opportunities.

The Group’s growing membership includes Association cofounders Inez and Eula Hibbert, both now 97, while their daughters, Molly and Althea, serve as chair and treasurer respectively.

Althea told The Voice: “Both of my parents were founder members of the Association — my father Aston died in 1996. I remember going with them to the Association every Sunday at 6pm with other members.

“We met up with other mainly Black children for parties, trips, summer schools, etc. This was the mid-60s, there wasn’t a lot for Black kids: our parents made us aware of the society we were living in, that we had to work harder, that some people didn’t like us because of the colour of our skin.

“We were young but were aware that we were part of a Black organisation that was helping us. It was wonderful to be a part of.

“My dad was always interested in young people. He would often contact the police and visit young Black people who had been arrested, at a time when many of us were so wary of the police.

“I remember when he was taking me to school, he’d stop and encourage those children who were going to be late to try to be on time! He trained as a carpenter in Jamaica, worked here for a local company, enjoyed it so much and taught the trade to young boys. People still tell me how much they regarded him.

Respect

“Mum didn’t have a formal role at the Association, just supported Dad. They used to link with other Associations like in Telford, we’d go to their events too. It was quite a rich upbringing. It made you value your fellow Black people and gave us respect for elders.”

Althea’s involvement began to wane as she matured, although she volunteered at its summer schools during her late teens. Infused by her parents’ aspirations, she went on to amass nearly 40 years’ service in the NHS, working up to hospital ward manager and currently parlays working in elderly care with Group work since returning several years ago, at Molly’s request.

“I think we’ve lost some of that community spirit, especially with some of our younger people, who commonly don’t want to be involved. There is still a need for the Elders’ Group. Mum’s frail and needs to be taken to her appointments. She loves the Group. It’s so very rewarding, and each week I see more people coming.”

Citing the challenges facing the Association today, Althea, now 64, added: “Funding is hard to come by but the NHS and the government are keen for older people to get help to combat conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia and depression.

Another with a strong legacy to the work is Group volunteer Angela Johnson, 62, a former employee of the Association who worked there for a decade until

FOCAL POINT: Members of the Elders’ Group meet every Wednesday; below left, original West Midlands Caribbean Parents’ and Friends’ Association members; below right, the Association’s historic office base at 372 Newhampton Road West in Whitmore Reans; inset, Molly Henriques-Dillion was awarded a British Empire Medal

2009, officially as an admin officer, but did much more: “At the time we ran various projects like a prison link befriending service and harmony group for separated families’ contact centre) as well as the Elders’ Group.

“There was a lot to be done: accounts, PAYE, etc. It was a very busy project and extremely rewarding. People would just drop-in to ask for support, like with passport and citizenship applications. We helped a lot of people over the years. We’ve also lost a lot of them who had become like family.”

Made redundant when Council funding ended, Angela pitched up again a year later as a vol- unteer! “They won’t let me go! It felt a nice obligation to be there for them still, even though I wasn’t getting paid for it. It was like I was still working there! I can do so many things, which is probably why my body’s knackered now!!”

Angela reflected on the Association’s impact: “Without somewhere to guide people who came from the Caribbean, they would have been lost. It was a beacon and a signpost to those in need of support. I don’t like to see people used or taken advantage of. So often those who came to us left with peace of mind. It made me feel good to be helping then and now.”