Welcome Note
Welcome to the July 2026 edition of The Forgotten Generations CIC Monthly Newsletter. Our mission is to highlight the stories, achievements, and events of African and Caribbean communities here in the UK and across the world. Thank you for joining us as we celebrate heritage, culture, and community progress.
Community Spotlight: Notable Achievements
Post Box to Honour Britain’s First Black School Teacher: After Royal Mail declined to include him in a 2020 tribute, locals in Hawick, Scotland, commissioned the memorial, a custom black-and-gold post box to honour Tom Jenkins, Britain’s first Black school teacher.
Black Student of the Year: Salome Enoshi Uwah, a former student and staff member at the University of Greater Manchester (UoGM), was named Black Student of the Year at the UK Black Healthcare Awards 2026 in London. She is currently a doctoral student at Robert Gordon University.
Justice Williams reflects on the 17th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth announcing she was receiving an MBE: Justice reflects on being a young, 28-year-old Black recipient recognized for inner-city community work in Birmingham. She explains that at 28, she couldn’t fully appreciate what that would mean, but that now at 45, she understands that “honours don’t simply recognise the work you’ve done. They can become a responsibility to continue opening doors for others”.
News from Abroad
Good News for People on Top Medical Aid in South Africa: Medical aid provider Profmed has concluded its investigation into a data breach first reported in June 2026, confirming that no clinical, health, or additional categories of personal information were compromised.
Top African Referee Omar Artan Appointed to 2026 UEFA Super Cup final: between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa in Salzburg, Austria. The appointment serves as a prestigious opportunity for the 2025 CAF Men’s Referee of the Year after he was controversially denied entry to the United States and forced to miss officiating at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This landmark selection makes Artan the first African referee to ever oversee a major UEFA competition match.
Good News for People on Top Medical Aid in South Africa: Medical aid provider Profmed has concluded its investigation into a data breach first reported in June 2026, confirming that no clinical, health, or additional categories of personal information were compromised.
Upcoming Events
| Date | Event and details |
|---|---|
| 18 July | Afrikan Market Leeds Afrikan & Caribbean stalls: buy your arts, crafts, food, fabric, crystals, creams and so much more. Learn a new skill and educate yourself. Leeds West Indian Centre, LEEDS |
| 18 July | A Taste of North Africa & The Middle East A cultural culinary event featuring authentic cuisine, music, storytelling, and performances celebrating the traditions of North Africa and the Middle East. CARLISLE |
| 18 July | A Taste of Africa – Leap Into Hope Fundraising Event A charity fundraising event celebrating African culture through a vibrant fashion show, authentic food, live music, dance performances, and family-friendly activities. Godinton Village Hall, ASHFORD |
| 18 July | Kenya Festival Oxford 2026 A vibrant cultural celebration featuring live music, authentic food, and entertainment showcasing the best of Kenyan heritage and community vibes. Oxford Quins RFC, HORSPATH |
| 18 July | African Caribbean Rum Punch Up A lively culture clash party featuring a rum punch battle, epic beats from Africa and the Caribbean, and an on-site BBQ serving dishes like suya and jerk chicken. Heat Afro Lounge, OXFORD |
| 25 July | Skatterlings of Africa Family & Rugby Day A family-friendly African braai day featuring South African food and drinks, live music, children’s entertainment, and a screening of the Currie Cup rugby match. Langdale Hall, WITNEY |
| 31 July | Black Film Club A monthly film screening gathering (the last Friday of every month) focused on watching Black classic cinema followed by an open community discussion. African Caribbean Centre, Maidstone Road, LEICESTER |
Youth Corner
Link Up Summer Youth Programme: From the 20th July to the 21st August 2026 (Monday to Friday, from 2:00 PM). The African Caribbean Centre in Leicester organises a comprehensive summer youth development initiative designed for young people aged 11–18. The programme offers structural workshops in creative arts, drama, performance, music production, and professional beat making alongside recreational team-building activities, sports, games, bowling, and scheduled group day trips.
Black-led charity Poetic Unity has a 10-year strategy plan to tackle core racial inequities affecting young people aged 10–30. They have helped thousands of young people find confidence, community and opportunity through spoken word. They aim to drive systemic change across three critical pillars:
- Education: Campaigning to boost Black and Global Majority authors on the GCSE English curriculum from a meager 0.7% to 10%.
- Mental Health: Addressing deep systemic disparities to improve vital care and support for Black youth.
- Employment: Creating tangible career pathways to combat the disproportionate 27% unemployment rate facing young Black Brits.
Heritage and History
This month we would like to highlight he Pan African Festival TT, organized by the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago. is a multi-dimensional cultural and educational event pays homage to African ancestors and celebrates the global African diaspora. Under the 2026 theme, “Igniting African Consciousness: Dismantling Colonial Legacies,” the festival features weeks of panels, business symposia, and concerts.
The main festivities are held at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village in Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, and culminate on August 1st (Emancipation Day) with the massive Kambulé street procession and a sunset Flambeaumarch.
The festival brings outstanding performers from Trinidad and Tobago, Africa and other parts of the African Diaspora. “Visitors seek a soul-enriching immersion in a spiritually and intellectually stimulating environment infused with the cultural heritage of Africans; and a chance to bond with Africans with a common sense of purpose”. The Emancipation Support Committee explains.
For a deeper look into the launch of this year’s festival, watch the UWI Principal Calls For Solidarity And Action At Pan African Festival Launch video.
Get Involved
Would you like to share your story, promote an event, or volunteer with The Forgotten Generations CIC? Email us at info@theforgottengenerations.com or follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Thank You
Thank you for supporting The Forgotten Generations CIC. Together, we honour our history, empower our present, and inspire our future.
