A group of older residents – many of whom arrived in Britain as part of the Windrush generation – are creating a commemorative quilt to celebrate their legacy and lived experience.
The seniors from Nubian Life resource centre in Shepherds Bush will sew the quilt's patchwork pieces over the coming months. The finished result will be displayed to the public as a wall hanging.
A dozen workshops are being organised by Heritage Community Crafts, a craft skills specialist with expertise in quilt-making. Here the initial drawings based on Hammersmith & Fulham senior citizens' memories of London life, work and fashions will be prepared.
Those sketches will be transformed into colourful fabric designs, stitched together and then trimmed with lace, recycled clothes, fabric flowers, prints, embroidery and beads.
Elizabeth Joseph of Heritage Community Crafts said the design will "celebrate the diversity in the borough" and that "workshops are for all ages, and are open to the public". She added:
We have made quilts in other London districts – each one individual to that area. We hope, at some time, that it may be possible to combine everything into one giant wall hanging."
The quilt-making is financially supported by H&F Council.
Get involved
The plan is to complete the quilt by February next year.
Each workshop will host up to 25 participants and is open to all experience levels. As well as making something for future generations, the project fosters creativity, connection and wellbeing among Nubian Life centre regulars.
Three workshops will also be staged for both young and old Family Hub Old Oak Community Centre in Wormwood Scrubs. These will be open to outside participants. Visit the Heritage Community Crafts website to register your interest.
Travelling the borough
In February, the finished quilt will go on public display for six months in Askew Road Library, Avonmore Library and other sites in the borough – accompanied by transcripts of conversations with some of the people who helped make it.
It will also be available to view online.
Supporting the Mayor's charities
Set up in 1983 to support senior citizens of African and Caribbean heritage, Nubian Life is one of H&F Mayor, Cllr Sharon Holder's chosen charities.
Every year, H&F's Mayor picks charities providing life changing help to local residents and supports their work in the borough.
You can find out more about her chosen charities on our webpage here, or if you'd like to support Nubian Life you can make a financial donation of any amount to the Mayor's charity fund:
Account name: The Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham's Appeal Fund
Sort code: 60-50-06
Account number: 37530070
Charity number: 1023401
