Living Legacies One event taking place during Black History Month is LinkAge’s ‘Living Legacies’ exhibition. Taking the theme of ‘Brilliant in Bristol – many neighbourhoods, many cultures, one city’, LinkAge worked in collaboration with local artist Luke Mitchell to put together an exhibition of portraits of local Black and minority ethnic (BME) elders that portray an insight into their lives, histories and cultures.
Photos by Luke Mitchell
All the portraits are of members of the LinkAge BME Elders Groups Consortium. This bi-monthly forum was created to enable groups to come together and share knowledge, skills and best practice to support their continuation. LinkAge is helping to build their sustainability, promote and develop activities, source training and share resources. By supporting these groups, Linkage is helping to keep older people engaged in their community and subsequently preventing isolation and loneliness. The groups include Golden Agers, Malcolm X Elders, Dhek Bhal,
“It is impossible not to admire the
The ‘Living Legacies’ exhibition
Evergreens, Somali Elders, Bristol
ambition, energy and enthusiasm
will be in the foyer at City Hall
Older People’s Forum, Bristol
of these groups, all run by older
(formerly the Council House)
Indian Association and Bristol and
people and some run totally by
from 28 October to 1 November.
Avon Chinese Women’s Group.
volunteers. It is a privilege to get
It is open to the public and free
Almost all of these groups have
to know these older Bristolians
of charge.
been running for upwards of 20
who arrived from other continents
years, developed out of the need
over 50 years ago, with hopes and
to support minority community
dreams and whose stories weave
older people, and have continued
a rich tapestry of all our local
ever since.
history,” says Shelagh Hetreed from LinkAge.
12 www.voscur.org
For more information about Linkage call 0117 353 3042 or visit www.linkagebristol.org.uk
October / November / December 2013 Issue 22