Kirklees Tapestry Project to Celebrate the Enduring Legacy of the Windrush Generation
Huddersfield, May 2026 – Huddersfield Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church is proud to announce a successful grant award from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government for its ambitious new project.
Windrush on Tour will be a travelling photographic and digital tapestry celebrating the profound contributions of the Windrush generation and their descendants across Kirklees.
This innovative, community-led initiative will culminate in the creation of a striking 6m x 2.28m tapestry, co-produced with local artists, church members, and the wider community.
The artwork will vividly portray Huddersfield’s Windrush legacy across key sectors, including the NHS, transport, education, community activism, textiles, politics, heritage, culture, sport, music and faith.
Blending physical and digital storytelling, the tapestry will incorporate digital signage linking to a permanent online archive of over fifteen oral histories. These recordings will capture authentic, often untold stories of migration, resilience, and achievement.
A Touring Legacy Across Kirklees
Over the course of a year, the tapestry will tour at least seven locations across Kirklees, including schools, colleges, community centres, libraries, churches, and the University of Huddersfield.
Each venue will host a dedicated launch event featuring guest speakers from the Windrush generation, ensuring meaningful cultural engagement.
The project aims to reach over 5,000 people directly, with impact measured through pre- and post-event surveys assessing increased awareness, intergenerational dialogue, and community pride.
Fostering Pride, Recognition, and Education
Windrush on Tour is designed to deepen national and local recognition of the historic and ongoing contributions made by the Windrush generation and their descendants.
By bringing the tapestry into community spaces and educational settings, the project validates lived experiences while encouraging shared understanding across cultures and generations.
A strong emphasis will be placed on inspiring young people through direct engagement with pioneers in sectors such as healthcare, politics, heritage, faith, and business.
Interactive displays and digital content will ensure these stories remain accessible, relevant, and impactful for future generations.
A Natural Home for Windrush Legacy
Huddersfield Seventh-day Adventist Church is a longstanding Christian faith community and a cornerstone of the local Windrush-descendant population.
Beyond spiritual life, the church plays a vital role in celebrating cultural heritage, fostering community cohesion, and supporting intergenerational connection.
“Our purpose is to honour the legacy of our Windrush-generation founders by preserving their stories and ensuring their contributions to sectors like faith, the NHS, education, and culture in Kirklees are fully recognised,” said Elder Edwin Baker, Project Lead.
“Windrush on Tour transforms remembrance into a living, travelling celebration. By combining a physical tapestry with digital oral histories, we are creating a lasting educational resource that will spark conversation and build pride for years to come.”
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
The touring exhibition will launch as part of National Windrush Day 2026, with a public event featuring live testimonies, musical tributes, and the unveiling of the tapestry.
The community is invited to help shape the artwork itself. A public questionnaire is now open, asking residents, young people, and community groups what stories, symbols, and sectors they believe must be represented in the final tapestry design. The questionnaire can be accessed directly via the link below.
Public questionnaire link: https://forms.gle/JeL3Wyiv8VT5PMKB8
Outcomes at a Glance:
- One major tapestry (6m x 2.28m) with QR-linked oral histories
- 7+ curated display events across Kirklees
- 5,000+ projected engagements across diverse venues
- A permanent digital archive of 15+ oral histories on SoundCloud
- Measurable increases in awareness, recognition, and intergenerational dialogue
For more information, to book the exhibition, or to contribute an oral history, please contact:
huddersfieldsda@gmail.com