A swing-along to classic Jamaican tunes, the sharing of memories, and a Christmas meal with a Caribbean twist – our end of year community dinner was a chance to celebrate old friends and make new ones.
The festivities saw The New Testament Church of God, Downs Park Road, transform into a vibrant Christmassy hub filled with joy and laughter. Before our Christmas feast, Uprising Community Club’s Coordinator Carmen Anderson, and the Speaker of Hackney Cllr Kam Adams welcomed the elders who are at the heart of our community club – it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves with both old friends and new ones.
Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources, with a Windrush-specific cabinet brief, Cllr Carole Williams, and Hackney Downs ward councillor, Cllr Sem Moema, also enjoyed joining us for our celebrations and speaking with the elders. We all enjoyed a scrumptious three-course meal with a range of Christmas and Caribbean classics, including saltfish and breadfruit cake, a range of soups, jerk turkey with stuffing, Christmas ham, rice and peas, seasoned winter vegetables, rich rum cake, coconut cake – and some fruit punch to wash it all down with!
After dancing and singing along to music from the DJ, the elders were visited by Father Christmas himself who handed out goodie bags. We also all had the opportunity to have our say on Hackney Council’s Windrush artwork consultation – which will see a new, permanent piece of art installed in Hackney Town Hall Square to celebrate and honour the Windrush generation and their incredible contributions to our borough.
This event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our elders and to share the Christmas spirit by coming together to make fond memories.
From all of us here at Uprising Community Club, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thank you’s
We would like to send a huge thank you to all of our sponsors and supporters for your generosity;
- Paulette Lewis MBE of Jamaica Nurses Association, Craig of Finesse Funerals and all anonymous donors.
- Cllr Cam Adams, Cllr Sem Moema, Cllr Carole Williams of Hackney Council.
- Emma Wynne – Communications Officer, Petra Roberts – Cultural Development Manager\
- Andy Rogers for Photography
- All representatives from Peabody’s Pembury Estate team.
- All helpers and volunteers on the day
Team work makes the dream work!
The Uprising Community Club Team
