Reminiscence Materials:

WORK

We have put these materials together to trigger your

memories of the Caribbean and life in the UK since 1948.

The pictures can be used, together with our Windrush films,

stories and online displays, to start conversations

with friends, family and carers.

We have also included some questions to start your discussions.

Happy reminiscing!

Work: Sample questions

What sort of work did your parents / siblings do?

How did people find work – word of mouth, ads in shop windows, newspaper,

recruitment from school / job centres?

How easy was it to find a job? What /where was your first job?

How much were you paid?

Did you keep your wages or did you have to give some to your family / spouse?

What sort of training did you have ?

Describe the place where you worked / your job.

What was the workforce like?

Was the job manual / skilled / mechanised?

How were employees treated?

What challenges did you face? Was there discrimination?

Were there any perks – social clubs, staff outings, sports clubs, discounts?

How did you get promoted?

How easy was it for women to carry on working after they had children?

Was there a work uniform?

How has the world of work has changed for your children/ grandchildren?