Black History Month - Our Stories, Our Wellbeing: Migration, Mental Health

What happens to a community's wellbeing when identity, racism, family history and belonging is disrupted by migration spanning generations?
About this Event

What happens to a community's wellbeing when identity, racism, family history and belonging is disrupted by migration spanning generations?

This Black History Month, we are bringing people together for an important conversation about the experiences of African and Caribbean communities in London – and the ways migration journeys have shaped our identities, families, mental health and sense of belonging.

Migration is not simply about moving from one country to another.

It can involve hope, sacrifice, opportunity, separation, resilience, discrimination, identity, community and the search for belonging.

Our seminar will bring together researchers, mental-health professionals, community leaders and people with lived experience to explore these issues across generations.

5 questions we will explore:

1. What did migration really mean for the first generation?

What were the hopes, expectations and challenges of leaving Africa or the Caribbean and building a new life in London?

2. How have racism, discrimination and belonging affected mental wellbeing?

How have experiences of racism, exclusion and navigating a new society affected individuals, families and communities?

3. What happens when migration experiences are passed from one generation to another?

How do the experiences, expectations and memories of parents and grandparents influence the identity and wellbeing of their children and grandchildren?

4. Why can talking about mental health and their migration experience still be difficult in some African and Caribbean communities?

How do culture, stigma, faith, family expectations and perceptions of mental health services influence whether people seek external support?

5. What can we learn from the resilience of Black London communities?

How have family, faith, culture been migrated with the people and community networks, creativity and collective action helped people survive, adapt and thrive?

This isn't just a conversation about challenges.

It is also a celebration of resilience, contribution, family, identity, culture and community.

We will be launching our book of stories: Learning to Love yourself again

From Windrush to contemporary African migration, our stories have helped shape modern London. This Black History Month we are honouring our communities

Our history matters. Our stories matter. And our wellbeing matters.

📍 Event: Our Stories, Our Wellbeing: Migration, Mental Health & the Black London Experience
📅 Date: 31.10.2026
⏰ Time: 10am to 2.30pm
📍 Venue: St Margaret's Church North Street, Barking IG11 8AS
🎟️ Registration: https://AWSGBHM2026.eventbrite.co.uk

We would particularly welcome community organisations, mental-health professionals, researchers, educators, young people and members of African and Caribbean communities to join the conversation.

We have some tables available if you would like to have a community stall.

Please share this post with someone whose story should be part of this conversation.

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