Patrick Vernon facts for kids

Patrick Vernon is a British activist and writer. He was born in 1961. His family came from Jamaica. Patrick works to help communities and improve health. He used to be a local politician in London.

He is famous for starting the campaign for Windrush Day. This special day celebrates the contributions of migrants to the UK. He also created the "100 Great Black Britons" campaign. In 2012, he received an award called the OBE for his work.

Patrick Vernon's Early Life and Education

Patrick Vernon was born in Wolverhampton, England. His parents, Norris and Avis Vernon, moved to the UK from Jamaica in the 1950s. Patrick learned about his family history. He found out his family came from a village in Senegal called Kédougou.

He went to school in Wolverhampton. Later, he studied law at Manchester Metropolitan University. He also did more studies at Warwick University. In 1989, he moved to London.

Working for Better Health and Communities

Patrick Vernon has spent his career helping people. He worked in health and social care. This included helping people with mental health issues. He also worked on projects to improve communities.

He was a director for a charity called MIND. This charity helps people with mental health problems. Patrick also worked with groups that support refugees and immigrants. He believes everyone should have good health care.

Celebrating Black British History

The "100 Great Black Britons" Campaign

In 2002, Patrick started a company called Every Generation Media. It creates educational materials about cultural history. In 2003, he launched the "100 Great Black Britons" campaign. This project wanted to show the important contributions of Black people to Britain.

The campaign got a lot of attention. People voted for the greatest Black Briton. Mary Seacole, a nurse from the Crimean War, was chosen. In 2019, Patrick updated the campaign. He wrote a new book called 100 Great Black Britons with Angelina Osborne.

Windrush Day: A National Celebration

Patrick Vernon was one of the first people to ask for a national "Windrush Day". This day, June 22, celebrates the arrival of the Empire Windrush ship in 1948. This ship brought many people from the West Indies to Britain. They came to help rebuild the country after World War II.

Patrick started a petition in 2013. He asked the government to recognize Windrush Day. In 2018, the British government officially supported it. They also gave money to help celebrate the day. This day honors the Windrush generation and their families. It celebrates their contributions to British society.

Helping Families During Difficult Times

In 2020, Patrick started "The Majonzi Fund". This fund helps Black and minority ethnic families. It gives them small grants for bereavement counseling. It also helps them organize memorial events. He started this after his sister's partner passed away from COVID-19.

Patrick was also featured on the cover of British Vogue magazine in 2020. He was recognized as one of 20 activists working to change the world. He also helped get a special plaque for Paulette Wilson. She was a member of the Windrush Generation and an immigrant rights activist.

Patrick Vernon's Political Work

Patrick Vernon served as a local politician for eight years. He was a Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hackney. He worked for the Queensbridge area. He stepped down from this role in 2014.

Cultural Contributions and Media Work

Patrick Vernon is also a filmmaker. He directed a documentary called A Charmed Life. This film is about the Caribbean people who helped Britain during World War II. It focuses on a Jamaican ex-serviceman named Eddie Martin Noble.

He writes for newspapers like The Guardian and The Voice. In 2017, he was a guest editor for Black History Month Magazine. He also has a podcast called Museum of Grooves. It explores music and ideas about the future.

Awards and Recognition

Patrick Vernon has received many awards for his work:

• 2003: Recognized as a "Pioneer of the Nation" for Cultural History.
• 2004: Won Windrush Awards for Internet and Technology and Community Champion.
• 2012: Awarded an OBE for his work on health equality.
• 2017: Became a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
• 2018: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.