Oral History Project

The Barnardo’s Oral History project is about capturing and sharing the incredible experiences of Black and dual heritage communities, including the post-war African and Caribbean communities in Britain, often referred to as the Windrush Generation.

For Black History Month this year, we’re highlighting the journeys of these communities through conversations and interviews with some remarkable individuals. Join us as we discover the lives, perspectives and experiences that have shaped generations.

As part of the Oral History Project you can listen to:

The personal experience of our Vice President, Baroness Floella Benjamin who came to Britain from Trinidad and Tobago as a small child
Our six-part feature - Resilience: a life in Care, a series with Tony Simpson who retraces his steps in Barnardo's Care by visiting the places and institutions he was born and raised in
The intergenerational conversations between our British black and dual heritage care leavers about their experience of being supported by Barnardo’s
Personal reflections of our staff as the direct descendants of the Windrush generation

Listen to the first episode here:

You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Castbox.

Explore their stories

Floella Benjamin

Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1949, Floella, has gone on to do it all. Hers is an inspiring story about overcoming challenge and hardship.

Tony Simpson

Tony Simpson was born in 1961 to a Jamaican mother in a Salvation Army ‘mother and baby home’. He would then go on to spend the next 16 years of his life in Barnardo’s care.

Marine Gordon

Marine was placed in care at three weeks old, and remained there until 16. Now a teacher living in Oman, Marine talks about her experiences growing up in Dr Barnardo’s Village, how communities become family, cultural identity and how it can change, the effects of racism, and the resilience that comes with growing up in care.

Julienne Dolphin Wilding

Julienne, born in Hackney in 1960 to a West Indian father and a British mother, lived 15 of her first 18 years in Dr. Barnardo’s Village in Barkingside. In this conversation, Julienne discusses the discomfort of the term mixed race only being used to describe skin colour and not culture, the strange events that led to meeting her father and how her childhood obsession with wildlife and nature led to her career as an environmental artist.

Chris Alexander

We talk to our Barnardo’s colleague Chris about his experiences growing up with Caribbean heritage in 1970s and ‘80s UK. Chris reflects on how his understanding of his own cultural identity has changed over the years, Black history still not being part of the UK curriculum and the importance of having conversations about culture, race and heritage.

Winston Norton

Winston was placed in care with Barnardo’s at the age of three, after his father, a soldier who had been stationed in the UK, returned to the US. In this conversation, Winston shares his experiences of racism, involvement in his local Black Lives Matter protests and the hope he feels seeing young people’s interest in politics and social justice.

Louise Street and Debbie Gasston

Louise was born in Grenada, in the Caribbean, in 1938 to a large Muslim family. In this interview, our colleague Debbie interviews her mother Louise about their experiences of life in England.

Dr. Valerie Mason-John

Dr. Valerie Mason-John (hon.doc) M.A. also called Vimalasara, is an award-winning author, public speaker and Buddhist Teacher with a large body of work around trauma and addiction. In this episode, Valerie discusses the racism and bullying of her childhood, how her decisions and experiences shaped her as a person and an author, and what makes care leavers special.

Black History Month

Highlighting the journeys of children and young people, as well as volunteers and staff members from the Black community.

Our history

If you'd like to know more about the history of Barnardo's, you can read about our beginnings, growth and our commitment to continue the work Dr Thomas Barnardo began in 1867.

Find out more