Black History Month – reclaiming the narrative

Bridget, who we support in Coventry, features in a Black History Month Exhibition ‘Black in the day: Children of the Windrush Generation’, an exhibition hosted by Coventry Mind. Senior support worker Maureen Cottle worked with organisers Mind as the Community Historian to put the exhibition together, gathering stories including Bridget’s. This year the Black History Month theme is reclaiming the narrative – focusing on people taking control and telling their own stories, so we are proud to share Bridget’s life story, written by her sister Alison, especially for the exhibition.

“My sister Bridget was born in 1962 in Coventry to parents Dilbert and Joyce who both came from Jamaica. Due to a traumatic birth, Bridget has a learning disability but this has never stopped her from living her life to the fullest.

“Bridget has two sisters, myself Alison and an older sister Melody. We grew up in the Bell Green area of Coventry and lived the typical life of a Caribbean family, listening to reggae music, family gatherings, parties and indulging in Caribbean food. Bridget attended Deedmore School for special needs where she met some life long friends including Simon, Alan and Paul. Bridget had a best friend called Sandra at school and they used to play out together or Sandra would come to our house.

“We were all raised to very domesticated at home, Bridget included, and this has stood her in good stead and has enabled her to live in supported living and maintain a high standard for herself and her surroundings.

“When our parents decided to move back to Jamaica in the 1990s, Bridget went with them but didn’t like it and said it was too hot. She eventually came back to England and has been supported to live in her own flat since then. We as a family are happy that this has worked out so well for Bridget.

Bridget is supported to maintain her links with the Caribbean community which is vitally important for her and us as there aren’t many people with a learning disability from the same background as Bridget and this could lead to isolation and loss of identity.

“I’m happy that Bridget has been included in this exhibition along with other people from the same background and that have known her for years.”

Inclusion is everything to us.