National Lottery Grant Supports Windrush Music Heritage Project in Wolverhampton

Singer-songwriter and actress Beverley Knight, a Wolverhampton native and National Lottery ambassador, announced that Diversity Music Community 1st has secured a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The announcement was made at the Together For Music event held at the Wolverhampton Arts Centre.

The funding will support the organization’s Windrush: The Music, The Sound, The Legacy project, which documents and celebrates the Caribbean community’s cultural and musical contributions to Wolverhampton between the 1950s and 1980s.

About the Project

The initiative explores how the Windrush migration shaped the local area, honoring the legacies of Caribbean-born DJs, musicians, and community leaders who have been instrumental in defining Wolverhampton’s cultural identity.

Support from Community Leaders

Knight, whose family is part of the Windrush generation and whose hits include “Greatest Day,” expressed her enthusiasm for the project: “This work is so close to my roots and heart, celebrating and preserving Caribbean culture and music.”

Wayne Blake, chair director of Diversity Music Community 1st, praised both the funding and Knight’s involvement: “Having Beverley Knight surprise us with the announcement made it even more special. She’s a Wolverhampton local, a hometown hero, and a proud daughter of the Windrush generation. Her presence reminded us just how powerful our roots are and how far they can reach.”