Photo by Barry Chang, courtesy of Getty Images
A mentor to The Beatles and icon of Liverpool’s Caribbean community is to be honoured with a mural in the city.
Painted by John Culshaw – famous for his range of murals across Liverpool – the mural of Lord Woodbine will be the latest in a series of works commissioned by local charity Mandela8 to showcase and celebrate community role models and local heroes.
Mandela8 are aiming to “change the face of the community we live in by portraying positive models and their achievements” and have previously commissioned murals in Liverpool of LFC’s first Black player, Howard Gayle; photographer and urban griot Leroy Cooper; swimming hero James Clarke, and Nelson Mandela himself.
Harold Adolphus Phillips, known as Lord Woodbine, was a Trinidadian calypsonian, steelpan player and music promoter, who became an influential figure in Liverpool’s Caribbean music scene and an early mentor to the Beatles.
A member of the Windrush generation, he arrived in England in 1948 after serving in the RAF. Leading bands such as Lord Woodbine and his Trinidadians and the All-Caribbean Steel Band, he introduced calypso and steelpan to British audiences. Partnering with club owner Allan Williams, he promoted the pre-fame Beatles and drove them to Hamburg in 1960, performing alongside them.
Often called the “forgotten sixth Beatle” such was his influence on the band’s early work, he preferred modest living over any exploitation of The Fab Four’s fame. He tragically died in a house fire with his wife Helen at their home in Toxteth.
Liverpool artist John Culshaw has begun work on the mural
Carol Phillips, Lord Woodbine’s daughter, said: “The mural is for the whole family of Liverpool 8, not just our family, and we hope it will be a catalyst for the celebration and visibility of the Liverpool 8 music scene and the contributions musicians like my Dad made. Many of them played a prominent role in the growth of Liverpool’s music scene and on the international stage, yet some of their stories and contributions have remained unsung. It is important that we now recognise, celebrate and make visible the part they played in Liverpool’s musical history.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Liverpool’s musical history is full of people whose stories deserve to be told, and Lord Woodbine is one of them. His contribution to our city’s music scene, and to the story of The Beatles, has been hugely important, yet for far too long his name hasn’t had the recognition it deserves. This fantastic mural will help put that right. It’s a fitting tribute and a reminder that our musical heritage was shaped by people from all backgrounds and communities. I’m proud that we can help bring Lord Woodbine’s story back into the spotlight and make sure it’s there for future generations to see and learn from.”
Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8, said: “This mural has been 18 months in development, so to finally see Lord Woodbine take his rightful place in the landscape of our city is incredibly significant. Woodbine, and many others from Liverpool 8, played a significant role in shaping the music scene in Liverpool and beyond, yet their contribution remains largely invisible in the story the city tells about its musical heritage. Our role is to help change that, to ensure our community heroes are seen, their stories are told and their contribution is recognised for generations to come.”
“We are enormously grateful to Lord Woodbine’s family for trusting and supporting us in bringing this mural to life. We also want to thank our partners, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor’s Fund, Liverpool Business Improvement District, Northern Roots, Riverside Group and Liverpool’s Accommodation BID. Their support and commitment have helped turn an idea we have nurtured for the past 18 months into a lasting and visible celebration of an important part of Liverpool 8’s cultural and musical history.”
Sarah Wall, Head of Communities & Livelihoods at Riverside said: “We are thrilled to see this mural unveiled and delighted to be supporting Mandela8 once again as they bring another important project to life. “It is fantastic to see the life and legacy of Lord Woodbine recognised in this way. We hope the mural will inspire a new generation of Toxteth residents and Liverpudlians to take pride in their community and celebrate Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage.”
Stephen Nze, Ambassador at Mandela8, said: “It has been an honour and a pleasure to work once again with John Culshaw on Mandela 8’s fifth mural in the series, celebrating community members and the achievements of Black people across our great city. This mural is particularly special to me because of the man at its centre. As a child, I knew him simply as ‘Woody’ or ‘Mr Woodbine’. It was only as I grew older that I began to discover the remarkable accomplishments, talents and contribution of this great man.
For me, there has always been a deep sense that too much of his story — and the wider contribution of Black people to Liverpool — was overlooked, forgotten or written out of our history. As a community, we have felt that this was a great injustice. We at Mandela 8, are helping to put that right. This mural is about more than celebrating one remarkable individual; it is about reclaiming a piece of our shared history and making sure that future generations know the story of this great man, who arrived on the shores of our Liverpool city and made Liverpool 8 his home. It is a privilege to play a part in setting the record straight and ensuring that his legacy, and the legacy of so many others, is seen, remembered and celebrated.”
Photo courtesy of the Phillips family
Mural Artist, John Culshaw said: “I’m so happy to be part of this project. Doing my research for this project, I got to learn about Harold and the pivotal role he played in the Liverpool music scene. Not just in the early days of the young Beatles, but introducing calypso and an exotic flavour to the scene, that future musicians could learn from and influence their own music. I think this among many others musical influences are what has made Liverpool a hotbed for unique talents.”
There will be an official unveiling of the mural with guest speakers on Monday 19th October 2026 at 2pm. The mural’s location will be on Hillaby Close, L8 8LY (off Upper Warwick Street). For more information on Mandela8’s community murals, click here.
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronA citywide initiative led by Mandela8 in collaboration with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool BID Company.
Mandela8 are delighted to launch Mandela Day 2026 with Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Bid Company, which will see a range of activities take place across the city.
Mandela Day, marked internationally on 18 July, celebrates the life and values of Nelson Mandela by encouraging people to take 67 minutes of action for social justice and community improvement, representing the 67 years Mandela dedicated to public service.
The Theme for Mandela Day 2026 is “It’s In Your Hands”.
Activities this year focus in two key areas:
1. Education and Literacy – Improving access to books, learning opportunities and mentoring and;
2. Active Citizenship – Encouraging volunteering and civic engagement to address poverty and inequality.
Activities can take place across Mandela Week (14–18 July 2026) rather than a single day if preferred!
“Mandela Day offers Liverpool a powerful opportunity to demonstrate how the values of Nelson Mandela remain relevant today. It is great to see schools, communities and civic institutions get involved every year. Mandela Day reminds us that everyone has the power to make a difference” Interim Chair Michelle Cox MBE
We are encouraging schools, local businesses, institutions and community and voluntary sector organisations and individuals across the city to get involved. This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate how Mandela’s values can be translated into practical action across Liverpool, continuing to support our annual campaign to encouraging people to celebrate our diversity and differences.
The Mandela Day brochure is full of ideas of the types of activities you can do during the week or on Mandela Day and the news articles below give you some ideas of the types of activities others have done in the past:
DOWNLOAD THE IDEAS BROCHURE HERE
DOWNLOAD THE BANNERS BELOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MANDELA DAY
Liverpool City Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Ruth Bennett said:
“Mandela Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the values Nelson Mandela stood for and consider how we can make a positive difference in our communities. The theme, ‘It’s In Your Hands’, reminds us that tackling inequality and building a more inclusive city requires action from everyone.
Liverpool has a proud history of standing up for equality and social justice. Through our anti-racism work and partnerships across the city, we are committed to creating a place where everyone feels welcome, valued and able to thrive. I encourage residents, schools, businesses and community organisations to get involved and help make Mandela Day 2026 a success.”
Bill Addy, CEO, Liverpool Business Improvement District said:
“We are proud to, once again, be supporting Mandela Day. This truly is a moment for our city and communities to come together. The relevance of this day does not diminish. The focus on learning and active participation gets to heart of how we have the agency to shape our cities and work in harmony together, to create a place that is driven by equality and accessibility for all.”
Remember to use the hashtags below when promoting your activities on social media: #Itsinyourhands #Mandeladay2026
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronA new photographic exhibition in Liverpool is set to tell the story of Toxteth’s Black musicians of the 1950s and 1960s, whose influence reached The Beatles and beyond.
This autumn, the University of Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery & Museum (VG&M) presents Toxteth: The Harlem of Europe. Running from 11 October 2025 to 26 April 2026, the free exhibition features portraits by Liverpool photographer Ean Flanders. Alongside striking new images of musicians from that era, Flanders also captures portraits of their descendants.
Presented in partnership with local charity Mandela8, arts development organisation Northern Roots, and the VG&M, the exhibition draws on the knowledge and memories of community figures such as singer Ramon “Sugar” Deen and Carol Phillips – daughter of Harold “Lord Woodbine” Phillips, and elders who were active in the area during this era.
Toxteth: The Harlem of Europe celebrates Toxteth’s Black musicians from across two decades, telling the story of a generation whose talent and innovation helped shape the sound of modern British music.
Legends from Liverpool’s music scene feature, including: Chris Amoo and Dave Smith from The Real Thing, Garry Christian from The Christians, Ramon “Sugar” Deen from The Harlems, Joe Ankrah and Alan Harding from The Chants, female harmony group Distinction, and reggae artist Ramon Judah, who continues to champion Liverpool 8’s rich musical tradition today.
Nicola Euston, Head of Museums and Galleries at the University of Liverpool, said: “We’re delighted to host this exhibition at the Victoria Gallery & Museum, helping to shine a spotlight on this significant moment in not only Liverpool’s history but that of the global music scene. As signatories of the Liverpool Arts and Culture Race Equality Manifesto, we are committed to ensuring our programmes reflect the diversity and richness of the communities we serve. It has been a pleasure to work once again with Ean Flanders, and to collaborate with Northern Roots, Mandela and L8 community members on a project that is both celebratory and deeply rooted in Liverpool’s cultural heritage.”
The exhibition will examine how out of the racial inequality of 1950s and 60s Liverpool emerged a rich, dynamic music scene centred on the vibrant nightlife of Toxteth in L8. Clubs such as the Whitehouse, the Palm Cove, and Dutch Eddies became hubs of creativity and musical excellence. Complementing Flanders’ portraits will be a selection of archival images, bringing to life this time in L8’s history.
Key figures included The Chants – backed at times by The Beatles – The Harlems, The In Crowd, “The Godfather” Odie Taylor, Derry Wilkie, and Lord Woodbine (Harold Phillips), a Trinidadian calypsonian who first sampled Liverpool nightlife whilst serving in the RAF during WW2 before returning to the UK on the Windrush. Woodbine, known affectionately as “Woody”, formed the Royal Caribbean Steel Band, mentored The Beatles, promoted them at his New Colony Club, and helped drive them to Hamburg for their first major break.
In 1964, when The Beatles refused to play for segregated audiences in the US, Paul McCartney said: “It wasn’t a political decision – we’re from Liverpool – all the bands, Black, white, we all just played together.”
Ean Flanders said: “It is a pleasure to be working once again at the Victoria Gallery & Museum. My involvement in this project grew from hearing the many stories of the artists and musicians of that era, and the struggles and inequalities they endured. I feel it is vital that these pioneers are acknowledged, not only for the influence they had in Liverpool, but also for the impact they made far beyond the city.”
Co-Founder of Northern Roots, Adam Collerton said: “This exhibition features legends from the Liverpool music scene, Chris Amoo and Dave Smith from the Real Thing, Garry Christian from the Christians, Ramon “Sugar” Deen from the Harlems, Joe Ankrah and Alan Harding from the Chants, Distinction who carried the legacy through into the 1980s and reggae artist Ramon Judah who has carried the torch of Liverpool 8’s musical heritage into the present day.
“Liverpool is home to Europe’s oldest Black community, this being mainly due to the city’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The early Black community included sailors, previously enslaved people from the Americas and the sons of African rulers, all of whom contributed to the rich cultural heritage of the area where many of them settled – Toxteth in Liverpool 8.
“This exhibition celebrates the enduring impact of these inspirational artists and the resilient, creative community of Toxteth that gave rise to them.”
Chair of Mandela8, Sonia Bassey said: “Liverpool is home to one of Europe’s oldest Black communities, rooted in the city’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and its global maritime connections. The earliest Black presence included enslaved and formerly enslaved Africans brought to Liverpool by ship captains, as well as Black seamen who settled after working on merchant and naval vessels.
“Over time, the community was also shaped by African-Caribbean migrants and the sons of African rulers sent for education, all of whom contributed to the rich cultural heritage of Toxteth on Liverpool 8, the area where many of them settled. This exhibition celebrates the enduring impact of these inspirational artists, and the resilient creative community of Toxteth that gave rise to them.”
The exhibition will be accompanied by an events programme including a performance from KOF + Jazz Gittens at the Tung Auditorium on Wednesday 29 October 2025 (1-1.50pm).
Toxteth: The Harlem of Europe is curated by Ean Flanders, Northern Roots and Leonie Sedman, Curator of Heritage and Collections Care at the University of Liverpool.
Prostate Cancer UK is the exhibition’s charity partner. It is working with Toxteth, The Harlem of Europe to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of early diagnosis. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, with1 in 8 men diagnosed in their lifetime. The risk is even greater for Black men, who face double the risk.
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronChair of Mandela8, Sonia Bassey MBE is to receive an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University.
The announcement was made this morning with fellows to be conferred during a ceremony in October.
In 1987 Sir John Moores became the first Honorary Fellow of the then Polytechnic and it established a tradition which continues to the day at the university named in his honour.
Since that inaugural conferment LJMU have recognised the outstanding achievements of over 300 distinguished individuals, who have become part of their extended university community and who align themselves with their activities and advocate on the university’s behalf.
An Honorary Fellowship is the highest award LJMU confer as a university; a public recognition of outstanding professional achievements and individuals, celebrated as role models for students and staff.
(Photo: John Hollingsworth)
A graduate in business and finance from LJMU, and former Director of Public Sector Transformation for Cheshire and Warrington until retirement in 2022, Sonia earned an MBE for her community service in Liverpool and was winner of the LCRCA 2023 Inspiration Award – Lifetime Achiever for her 40+ years in promoting race equality and social justice through the arts and neighbourhood and regeneration services.
Her recent projects have included: Liverpool 8’s arts corridor, featuring the Nelson Mandela mural, transforming Princes Avenue embedding the Black community history into the very fabric of the design; becoming a founding member and Director of L8 Matters Community Land Trust and a Trustee of the National Community Land Trust Network; and leading the BLM March in Liverpool in 2020.
Sonia is the first Black Chair of LCVS and former Chair of Africa Oyé and is currently Chair and one of the founding members of Mandela8. Sonia has been instrumental in the Mandela Memorial installation in Princes Park, bringing the Mandela family to Liverpool, the annual Mandela Day celebrations and programmes in schools and for youth at risk of exclusion.
Tukwini Mandela (left) with Sonia Bassey during Mandela Week in Liverpool (Photo: John Hollingsworth)
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark Power comments:“Our Fellowship is an exceptional roll call of individuals who participate in the life of the university and become our ambassadors. Fellows are drawn from all walks of life and numerous disciplines, many are alumni and return for the honour having established professional acclaim in their time since graduating. The cohort we will recognise this year is outstanding and I’m already proud of their association with LJMU and looking forward to how we can work with them in the future.”
Artistic Director of Africa Oyé and Mandela8 Trustee, Paul Duhaney said: “Everyone at Mandela8 is delighted to learn of this wonderful honour that Sonia is receiving from LJMU. It is testament to her tireless work and activism for her community and the arts in Liverpool that she has shown all her life.”
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronMandela8’s thoughts and solidarity are with our Muslim and Black communities as racially motivated acts of violence continue to be perpetuated across our communities. We are extremely concerned over the rising racial attacks and violence unfolding on our streets and all our communities across the UK.
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronA local charity has joined forces with Liverpool BID Company to encourage organisations and individuals to take part in ‘acts of kindness’ to commemorate the life and work of Nelson Mandela this July.
Mandela8, who have just overseen the completion of a new memorial to the revered leader in Princes Park, will once again mark Mandela Day on 18th July with a series of events and activities in the city. The theme this year is ‘Celebrating Communities’.
The day remembers Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation.
The Nelson Mandela Memorial in Princes Park
Sonia Bassey, Chair of Mandela8, said: “Nelson Mandela inspired the idea for Mandela Day at his 90th birthday celebrations in Hyde Park, London when he said ‘It is time for new hands to lift the baton. It is in your hands now’. The idea of Mandela Day is that everyone has the ability to make an impact and do something in their own way to change the world and the world of those around them.”
The city has its own special relationship and connection with Nelson Mandela. When Liverpool became aware of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s incarceration, community activists, unions and the city as a whole came together to support the Free Nelson Mandela Campaign and took a solid stance against Apartheid.
Nelson Mandela was gifted the Freedom of the City in 1994 and a Civic Reception held in his honour 20 years later in 2014.
St George’s Hall lit up for Mandela Day
Sonia continued: “Liverpool is built on strong political and social values and has experienced oppression but not on the scale of South Africa. So, when awareness of the brutality of Apartheid in South Africa became known in Liverpool the City united to support Mandela, the ANC and South African people. We now have the permanent legacy to Nelson Mandela, the Memorial installed in Princes Park, Liverpool 8, endorsed by Dr Maki Mandela and Tukwini Mandela, his eldest daughter and granddaughter, with whom Liverpool now has a special relationship.”
As part of the Acts of Kindness week this year Mandela8 and Liverpool BID Company are asking corporate organisations to take part in Mandela Day, as part of Mandela Week, to do an act of kindness to commemorate Nelson Mandela, acknowledging his values and dedication to the service of humanity and struggle for international democracy and peace throughout the world.
Those taking part are encouraged to promote and celebrate their work in advance and on the day through social media by linking it to the international social media campaign for Mandela Day using the following hashtag: #AoKcelebratingcommunities and tagging us @mandela800 @mandela8_liverpool @LpoolBIDcompany
The Corporate Giving Programme Ask
Madela8 are looking for 1 company a month to sign up to supporting a voluntary or community group with their skills, experience or time to support an area of need identified. The types of activities you can support can be found in our Acts of Kindness brochure here.
How this will work:
Further information and photos can be found at https://www.mandela8.org.uk/my-67/
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronA new mural of community champion and photographer Leroy Cooper has appeared in Liverpool.
The artwork created by John Culshaw, famous for his range of murals across the City of Liverpool, was commissioned by local charity Mandela8, and has added to Granby Street’s growing status as a cultural arts corridor of Liverpool 8.
Locals have seen the mural develop day-by-day on the feature wall of the Ganby Adult Learning Centre with a wave of excitement building over the past few weeks until its completion. The end result is a stunning tribute with a strong message from Leroy himself: “My work is my legacy, photographs, painting, poetry and philosophy…. Self respect and dignity… But… love is everything”.
Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8 said: “This has been a while in development behind the scenes. Leroy Cooper was an innovative and creative man, way ahead of his time in his thinking, and he documented the people of Liverpool – Liverpool 8 in particular – for over 40 years. There is no other photographic records of the Black community like Leroy’s and that deserves recognition. The stunning mural of Leroy adds to the work Mandela8 has been doing to change the face and fabric of Liverpool 8 and how it’s perceived. It is a fitting tribute to Leroy and his family, installed before the first anniversary of his passing. May Leroy continue to rest in peace and his family take comfort in knowing Leroy was well respected in our community and will always be remembered for his work and ability to hold love in his heart.
We are delighted that Liverpool City Council allowed us to use this wall for the mural. John Clushaw is an amazingly talented artist, and it has been a privilege for Mandela8 to work with him again. We have already seen a real excitement about the work developing and we envisage – like all John’s work – it will become another major attraction for visitors”.
The completion of the new mural comes ahead of the anniversary of Leroy’s passing and as his family have just been informed that Leroy’s photographic exhibition in the Museum of Liverpool has been extended for a further 6 months.
Stephen Nze, Mandela8 Ambassador, who has been leading site management said: “It’s been a pleasure and an honour for us at Mandela8 and for me personally to have worked on this project of one of the most influential individuals of my generation and our community, and it is fitting that it is located on Granby Street where a lot of Leroy’s influences and creativity and artwork were manifested and then unleashed on our city. Leroy was a one of a kind, and we all knew him and he knew us all.Rest easy bro in that cosmic heavenly universe”.
Leroy’s Family said: “As a family, we are extremely proud and honoured that Leroy has been recognised in this way. This mural is a perfect way to represent and pay homage to Leroy’s contribution to his art, community and Liverpool. As a creative, Leroy would have been immensely proud that his peers, friends and community have paid tribute in this manner and we as his family are eternally grateful to the people of L8 and proud of the artistic achievement Leroy accomplished in his life. We hope this mural can inspire a younger generation to follow their passions the same way Leroy followed his because he never stopped dreaming and he would want the next generation to dream equally as big.
John Culshaw, Artistsaid: “ I didn’t know anything about Leroy until not long before he passed. When I painted the Nelson Mandela piece, Leroy got in touch with me, to congratulate me and we had a little chat on the internet. I thought Leroy was a cool, interesting guy. When Sonia and Nze approached me about the mural, I had to do a lot of research and speak to a lot of people who knew him. It was after doing all this research I realised just how important he was to not only the L8 community, but the whole city. As an artist today I am lucky to have the luxury of social media, meaning I can reach a huge audience, making it so much easier to forge a career from my passion. Leroy decided to follow his passion a long time before any of this help. He followed his dream and is an inspiration to all young artists coming through. His work is a perfect example, that if you do what you love, you will produce quality and that will be recognised. Leroy’s work has seen him become woven into the fabric of this city and more importantly become part of its history. This mural will stand in the heart of Leroy’s community and serve as a reminder to those who knew him, how one man can have such an impact on the world. For those who don’t know Leroy, I hope the mural will make them want to look him up, because his story is inspirational and will help a lot of people.”
Follow the artist, John Culshaw, on his Instagram page @john_culshaw86 and for more information on Mandela8, please visit mandela8.org.uk.
Photo: Mural by Colin Lane; Leroy at Granby Market by Daniel Cooper
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronAn L8 charity that runs a restorative justice programme for young people has announced a new partnership with two Merseyside businesses.
Housing association, Plus Dane Housing and general building contractors, Penny Lane Builders will both lend their support to Mandela8’s Roots & Wings programme in 2024, delivered in partnership with Taking Shape Association.
Roots & Wings supports young people who lack positive role models and are at risk of criminal exploitation, as well as those who are experiencing violent crime or live in fear of violent crime on a daily basis.
The programme has been running annually since 2020 and has seen 28 young people graduate from the scheme, earning a total of 72 AQA qualifications between them in the process. The project is supported by Mandela8 patron, LFC and England international, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8, said: “These young people live in areas of high deprivation with high levels of crime and are frequently disengaged from school and at risk of permanent exclusion from school. We are delighted to see our programme supported by businesses that are part of the infrastructure of our communities.
Working together to develop cohesive solutions is critical to the opportunities for our young people and sustainable communities. It is great to have the support of Plus Dane Group and Penny Lane Builders who both started out in Liverpool 8 and is a really positive way forward for us all”.
The programme includes restorative justice practices and aims to find enduring solutions to prevent young people from becoming involved in crime and violence and supports them to recognise consequences; understand cause and effect; reduce naivety; and increase their resilience and strength to ‘not get involved’.
Roots and Wings also supports cultural change around the acceptability of carrying weapons and succumbing to peer pressure.
Plus Dane Chief Executive, Ian Reed, said:“I am really pleased to be supporting the Mandela8 Roots and Wings programme. We started in L8, with 400 terraced homes in 1976 and we continue to invest in the area today. Supporting this inspirational programme, helping young people in the communities we serve, is a perfect match for us. Working together we want to help steer young people away from crime and create a vibrant, safe community for generations to come.”
Penny Lane Builders, Chief Executive, Gerard McEvoy, said: “At PLB we started our business in 1996 in the L8 area. Today we still work predominantly in the Liverpool area and we care about the success of our local communities. Part of our investment in the success of the communities is that we support innovative programmes that have real impact. We are proud to support young people in the Liverpool area via the Roots and Wings Young Leaders Programme and look forward to watching the young people progress over the 12 weeks.”
Kevin Stuart from Taking Shape Association said: “Roots & Wings is not just about giving these kids good experience with quality intervention and love. We support community empowerment by changing mindsets and shaping futures without compromise, which they deserve.”
Stephen Nze, Mandela8 Ambassador said: “To see the young people who come on the Roots and Wings programme and having a understanding of the young people and why they have joined – it’s great to see how they engage with Kevin and the team, and the difference it has made to many of those young minds; how they think about themselves, their families, and wider society. It’s incredible to see. Thanks to all who support this programme and support the young people and their families who we engage. It does make a difference.”
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronPictured: (Left to Right) Mandela8 Ambassador, Stephen Nze; Nelson Mandela’s daughter, Dr Makaziwe Mandela; Mandela8 Chair, Sonia Bassey MBE; and new Mandela8 Trustee, David Brown.)
Liverpool charity Mandela8 have announced their newest trustee to join the organisation’s Board.
David Brown has over 35 years of experience working in Social Housing both locally in Liverpool and across the UK in a varied career.
Currently Director of Pine Court Housing Association, Brown has held several Non-Executive Director roles in Black-led organisations and community projects including the Toxteth Tigers Community Mentoring programme – working with local disadvantaged young people primarily from a BME background – Mandela House supported housing project for young BME people in Liverpool, and Arawak Walton Housing Association based in Manchester, delivering housing and community services to local BME communities.
Brown will join Mandela8 as a trustee following the official opening of the new memorial to Nelson Mandela in Princes Park, L8 this past July. Brown also joined current Mandela8 Board members and ambassadors at Hatchards in London last month to celebrate the launch of a new book written by Dr Makaziwe Mandela (daughter of Nelson) and attend a Black History Month themed Q&A panel.
Chair of Mandela8, Sonia Bassey MBE said: “We are delighted that David has agreed to join our Board at Mandela8. He is committed to anti-racism and inclusion and comes from a family of local activists. His leadership, mentorship and management qualifications will make him a valued member of our team as we enter a new era for the charity following the memorial’s completion this year.”
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronWe are less than a week away from achieving what was a dream 10 years ago. Tuesday the 18th July is a day for celebration to realise that dream when we launch a memorial to Nelson Mandela.
This memorial has been achieved through years of hard work, determination and a lengthy consultation with the Mandela family, the local community, residents of Princes Park and civic leaders.
What was fundamental to us throughout this consultation was that the memorial signified the pride and respect the community have in Liverpool for Nelson Mandela and what he achieved in fighting for social justice. The memorial signifies a place where people can come to learn, reflect and feel proud of what can be achieved when communities come together from different parts of the world.
We fully recognised that to achieve our goal of installing this memorial that everybody’s voice mattered and that is why we undertook extensive consultation throughout each stage of the development.
In 2019 we launched the memorial, and we went through a formal planning process in which the impact on wildlife and animals was considered. It is with great sadness that we have to notify people that objections have been raised at this very late stage by somebody concerned for the environment.
We do not dispute that these issues are raised out of a genuine passion for wildlife. However, we are extremely concerned that this issue may now be hijacked by far-right groups who will use this platform to bring disruption to this special day.
Mandela8 would like to assure everybody, that the impact of the memorial on wildlife and the environment was fully considered throughout the consultation process. There are things we have put in place which have encouraged the wildlife in the area to thrive; but fundamentally Princes Park is an inner-city park in an area where many people do not have access to a garden or open space.
We ask that everybody who attends the event embraces this special day in recognition of Nelson Mandela who is an icon to us. Please stand beside us and share our passion to educate people to love not hate.
Mandela8 Board of Directors
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