Why did women from the former British Colonies come to Britain?

1. LO - To know about changes in one aspect of Britain since 1948. To understand the contribution of immigrant women to nursing since 1948. Success Criteria - ‘I understand that immigrant women made a significant contribution to the nursing profession after 1948’.

2. Why did women from the former British Colonies come to Britain? When the Second World War ended in 1945, it was quickly recognised that the reconstruction of the British economy required a large influx of immigrant labour. • In 1949, recruitment for nursing staff took place in Britain and overseas. Advertisements appeared in the nursing press and in Caribbean newspapers such as the Barbados Advocate and Barbados Beacon. • British born women weren’t so keen on applying for nursing jobs. They were more interested in secretarial or teaching jobs. Nursing was far less appealing because of the long hours, low pay and strict discipline. From 1949 senior nursing professionals went to the Caribbean to recruit for staff.

3. By 1955, 16 British colonies had set up selection and recruitment procedures to ensure a steady flow of colonial nursing candidates for the NHS: Barbados British Guiana (now Guyana) Jamaica Leeward Islands (Antigua, Montserrat and St Kitts) Trinidad & Tobago Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent) Caribbean women wishing to apply for nurse training in Britain had to be aged 19–30, qualified to matriculation level (equivalent to today’s GCSEs) and English-speaking. Royal London Hospital Archives: ME/P/19 Most recruits (or more usually their parents) had to pay their own fares and training expenses. From 1955 the British government offered loans for help with travel but recruits had to pay these back at a certain amount per week.

4. Activities: • Read the real statements made by nurses about their experiences of coming to Britain to train as nurses. • Sort them on a grid using the headings ‘Personal Background’, ‘Everyday life’, ‘Training and Working’. • Extension : What aspects of life for immigrant women do you think were the easiest/hardest?

5. Dame Karlene Davis • Born and raised in Jamaica, Davis emigrated to the UK to train as a nurse and later as a midwife before going on to teach midwifery. • Davis was appointed General Secretary of The Royal College of Midwives in 1994 and served until October 2008. • In 2001 Davis was awarded a Dame Commander of the British Empire for services to the National Health Service and midwifery. • She has become one of the most senior black women in the health profession and the UK's first black woman trade union leader. What would be a good interview question for Dame Davis?