Black History Month - a time to celebrate and call for change

The NPC will mark Black History Month by not only celebrating the achievements of black people in the UK but also reflecting on the inequalities that still exist.

A recent report by Age UK - Ageing While Black* - shows that ethnic minority older people, particularly older Black Caribbean people, face some of the biggest challenges of later life in the UK.

NPC Ethnic Minority Working Party Chair Ellen Lebethe (bottom right) at The Climate Coalition Mass Lobby this summer.”

They experience poorer health outcomes, higher rates of poverty, housing deprivation, and the lasting impact of discrimination in employment and pensions. For example, only 37% of black pensioners receive an occupational pension compared to 64% of white pensioners.

Like Age UK, the NPC believes these inequalities can and should be challenged and changed. 

We also join Age UK in calling for reform of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, which has so far delivered compensation to only 13% of those eligible. It was meant to redress the devastating impact of the scandal, when older Caribbean people were wrongly denied their resident status - losing jobs, homes, healthcare and in some cases, even being deported.

We believe it is time for justice and systemic change - something that will be pursued at the Fourth International Windrush Conference later this month.

NPC General Secretary Jan Shortt commented: “We want to celebrate the wonderful achievements of the UK’s ethnic minority community during Black History Month.  But it is just as important that we call for an end to discrimination so that older people in the UK’s ethnic minority communities finally experience the dignity, security and respect they deserve. This is something the NPC Ethnic Minority Working Party actively advocates for and supports.”

“The NPC Ethnic Minority Working Party celebrates Black History Month, and the rich lifelong experiences which Black communities share with us at this time.  The NPC believe cultural differences are to be celebrated and that we can learn from the powerful messages from our different communities. By supporting our communities and working together, we can press for more to be done to ensure that the Windrush generation receive the compensation they are due.”

Find out more about Black History Month:  www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk 

*Age UK  ‘Ageing While Black’ report:  Ageing While Black in report template_V06_20250814

You can apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme here: www.gov.uk/apply-windrush-compensation-scheme  

ENDS