We Gatherin' Activities in UK Gain Momentum with Successful Birmingham Event

Interest and participation in We Gatherin’ activities in the United Kingdom (UK) continue to build.

The recent Birmingham event attracted the largest attendance yet and the Barbados High Commission is receiving requests to hold community sessions in various areas, including from local councillors.

This was reported by Deputy High Commissioner in the UK Mackie Holder, who noted that the Barbados Building Bridges with Birmingham session was the third held so far by the Mission.

Holder described the interest by councillors as very encouraging as they represent local Government and understand the ability of the We Gatherin’ exercise to bring their communities together and update them on Barbados.

He added that the basic format of video and oral presentations on Barbados and the particular month, games session, a quiz, the incorporation of vendors, a passport clinic, surprise gifts and promotion of Barbados cuisine was proving popular.

Four seniors were honoured on International Women’s Day and the chairs of two new Barbadian groups, Dawn Bowen-Browne of 246 Together (246T), and Richard Yearwood of the Barbados Cultural Society (BCS), were introduced at the event. The BCS is based in London while 246T, which meets online, is hoping to energise Manchester.

Also attending was Empress Gibbs of Skate Buddies UK CIC, a mentoring organisation through roller skating, which is having ongoing discussions with the Mission. Gibbs, of Barbadian heritage, is interesting in expanding and connecting with Barbadian skaters.

In an interesting twist in Birmingham, live interviews were conducted with Athelston “Tony” Sealey and Heather Husbands, both of whom were born in St Thomas, the parish spotlighted this month.

Sealey is the Special Envoy on Inward Investment and Diaspora Affairs, and patron of 2nd Generation of Barbadians and Friends, Birmingham, which co-hosted the event with the Mission and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI). He will be in Barbados to attend St Thomas activities.

Husbands, who journeyed from Reading with fellow members of the Barbados and Friends Association, Reading, (BAFA), which turned up in full force, gave a riveting story of giving up a settled, lucrative career to retrain as a radiographer, at which she has excelled, when her grandmother was diagnosed with cancer.

Commenting on the Mission’s commitment to partnering with associations where possible and incorporate small businesses, Holder said an exciting feature of the mix of vendors in Birmingham, which included two book exhibitors and a range of Barbadian items, was a barber shop.