Update July 2026
The last two years has enabled NWJS members some great opportunities to 'build bridges of friendship' with members of the community in Pennants, and across Clarendon in Jamaica. The NWJS Team thank 'Learning Links International', the Bangor based organisation that managed the Welsh Government funded 'Taith' international exchange.
More on this project here.
Now the NWJS team are moving on with final reports to complete and planning for the future.
Emancipendence:
1st - 6th August 2026 in Bangor, Gwynedd
Jamaican Emancipation and Independence Events
at Penrhyn Castle and Bangor's Civic Hall /Penrhyn Hall
and on Zoom
Please wear Jamaican colours if you can !
On Emancipation Day, Saturday 1 August from 10.00 am–12 noon at the One World Café, Penrhyn Hall, Bangor, where North Wales Jamaica Society researcher, Lesley Evans, will share more of the remarkable stories emerging from the Penrhyn Papers in Bangor University Archives and explain how the names of enslaved Africans who worked on the Pennant family plantations are being rediscovered through her research.
On Sunday 2 August from 2.00–4.00 pm, the North Wales Jamaica Society Summer School begins at Y Stablau, Penrhyn Castle. Then on each Monday evening, the programme will be repeated on Zoom, enabling participants from Wales and Jamaica to learn and reflect together.
On Monday 3rd August at 2pm in Wales and 8am in Jamaica on Zoom the NWJS Summer School session will be repeated to enable colleagues from Jamaica and Wales to meet up.
On Tuesday 4 August a Jamaican Quiz and Domino Night is being hosted by the North Wales Africa Society, at the Bangor African and Caribbean Centre, 346 High Street, Bangor from 7-9. Local teams will challenge one another during the evening.
On Wednesday 5th August, NWJS members will spend the afternoon from 2- 4pm exploring more of the Penrhyn Papers at Bangor University Archives.
The celebrations conclude on Thursday 6 August at 2pm on Zoom with the annual online Jamaica–Wales Alliance Independence Day Celebration, bringing together friends and partners from both sides of the Atlantic.
The North Wales Jamaica Society hopes the week will encourage more people in North Wales to discover more about the fascinating historical connections between Wales and Jamaica and consider becoming involved in future community projects. The NWJ Society welcomes new members, and membership is free.
For the full programme of events, Summer School registration, with details of free NWJS Membership and further information, visit www.nwjsonline.com.
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Update June 2026
Join in one of our Windrush events in Bangor!
The final NWJS study group from Wales to spend time in Jamaica was really sucessful.
This was part funded by the Welsh Government's Taith project, with additional support from Learning Links International and we thank both organisations for enabling 5 group visits of adult learners and young people to Jamaica and 2 group visits to Wales, as well as 4 individual visits to Wales
We will post reports here asap.
Our next activity is the annual celebration of Windrush - and plans are for a Saturday morning session at the One World Cafe at Penrhyn Hall Bangor on Saturday 20th June from 10am with a Jamaican breakfast available. The session will then start at 10.30am with key note speakers. The session will also share an update about the progress being made with the Bangor, Gwynedd and May Pen, Clarendon 'Bridges of Friendship' link.
